First Look: West Feliciana’s upcoming data center
A large data center under construction in West Feliciana Parish is expected to power Anthropic's artificial intelligence model and generate about $90 million in annual tax revenue. Parish officials say the publicly negotiated project will fund infrastructure and property-tax rebates, while water use and electricity costs remain concerns associated with the development.
A data center being built in West Feliciana Parish is expected to be operational in a little over a year and will support Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence model. The facility will span roughly 10 football fields and employ about 1,200 construction workers during the buildout. Parish President Kenny Havard said the project was structured to protect local water resources and ensure the company pays taxes under the same framework as other major businesses.
The data center is projected to generate approximately $90 million in annual tax revenue for the parish, supporting infrastructure projects and property-tax rebates. The report notes that comparable facilities have raised concerns about groundwater use and higher electricity bills. Gov. Jeff Landry defended the state's approach to industrial recruitment, while Donald Trump Jr., who attended the event, argued that artificial intelligence development is strategically important for the United States and should proceed alongside attention to community needs.