Louisiana AI data centers to use large quantities of water, energy, land

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) has announced significant investments in AI data centers across the state, sparking discussions about their environmental impact. Amazon plans to invest $12 billion in data center campuses in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. Additionally, Hut 8 is set to build a $10 billion AI data center in West Feliciana Parish, and Meta announced a $10 billion, four-million-square-foot AI data center campus in Richland Parish. These projects are expected to consume substantial quantities of water, energy, and land. Mid-sized data centers can use as much water as a small town, with larger ones requiring millions of gallons daily. Meta's Richland Parish data center anticipates water usage similar to agricultural consumption, with pledges to offset it through waterway restoration. Amazon's Caddo and Bossier Parish facilities will draw water from Caddo Lake, while Hut 8 plans a closed-loop recirculating system for its West Feliciana center to minimize water consumption. The projects also demand significant land, with Meta's facility covering 2,500 acres of former farmland, and Hut 8 developing approximately 450,000 square feet across two centers. The energy demands are equally substantial; hyperscale data centers can consume as much electricity as 100,000 homes. Meta's Richland Parish data center is projected to draw more than twice the power of New Orleans, with Meta funding new natural gas turbines from Entergy Louisiana, but transmission costs potentially passed to utility customers. SWPECO will power Amazon's campuses in Caddo and Bossier Parishes, with Amazon covering infrastructure upgrades. Hut 8 is collaborating with Entergy Louisiana to secure 330 megawatts, with potential for expansion up to 1,000 megawatts.