Wake Up NOLA: Entergy seeks to boost power capacity for Louisiana’s Meta data center

Sam Carlin, an investigative reporter with nola.com, reports that Entergy, Louisiana's primary electric provider, is planning to construct an unprecedented number of new power plants to support Meta's hyperscale data center currently under construction in rural Richland Parish. Meta's facility, like most data centers, demands a substantial amount of electricity to operate. Entergy has already secured approval to build three gas-fired power plants to address these needs and is now seeking permission for several more. Their proposal includes seven new gas-fired plants, alongside solar farms, batteries, and upgrades to existing nuclear facilities. If completed, these new plants would collectively produce five times the power consumed by the entire city of New Orleans on an average day. This development contributes to a broader national controversy surrounding the impact of tech giants' massive data centers on electric grids and consumer bills, driven by the rapid expansion of AI. Former President Donald Trump previously urged tech companies to sign a ratepayer protection pledge to ensure they contribute more towards their own power requirements. Entergy announced that Meta has committed millions of dollars to charitable programs for low-income customers, as reported by nola.com.