Louisiana regulators allow Meta to keep some data center details secret
The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted to allow Meta to keep details about its planned data center, including permanent jobs and energy usage, secret. This decision follows a judge's subpoena for the information and has raised concerns among the public and one commissioner regarding transparency and potential financial burdens on ratepayers.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) voted 3 to 1 to allow Meta to withhold key information about its planned data center, including the number of permanent jobs it will create and its energy consumption. This decision comes despite a judge having previously subpoenaed this information.
During the meeting, many attendees expressed concerns that they, as ratepayers, would be left to cover the costs associated with the data center's energy demands. Commissioner Devante Lewis, who represents metro New Orleans, cast the sole dissenting vote against keeping these details confidential, emphasizing the public's right to know the facts, especially concerning a project estimated to cost over $13 billion in proposed new energy plans.
While Governor Landry signed an executive order in May to encourage investment and protect people from higher power costs, Commissioner Lewis argues that Meta's pledge to pay for its energy use only covers the initial 15 to 20-year contract. He warns that if the deal is not renewed or falls through, ratepayers could be responsible for the asset's costs, highlighting the importance of transparent information for making public interest determinations.