$3.6B AI data center coming to Central Louisiana
Louisiana officials announced plans for "Delta Forge 1," a $3.6 billion AI data center by Applied Digital in Rapides Parish, expected to open by mid-2027. While state leaders foresee economic growth and jobs, environmental groups and residents are raising concerns about the project's financial and environmental impact, particularly regarding water usage and costs for taxpayers.
Louisiana officials have announced plans for a significant new AI data center in Rapides Parish, marking another multi-billion-dollar investment in the state's digital infrastructure. Applied Digital Corporation is set to build the $3.6 billion "Delta Forge 1" campus on a 300-acre site, with an anticipated opening in mid-2027. Governor Jeff Landry lauded the project, highlighting Louisiana's readiness to support advanced technologies and predicting over 1,000 construction jobs and 400 permanent positions. Cleco, the utility provider, has committed to powering the facility, with its CEO emphasizing the project's historical economic significance for the company.
However, the announcement has been met with apprehension from environmental groups and local residents who fear potential negative consequences. Reports from the University of Texas at Austin have warned about data centers' heavy water consumption in water-stressed regions. Concurrently, the Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Sierra Club Delta Chapter released a report raising concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers. Angelle Bradford Rosenberg, Chair of the Sierra Club Delta Chapter, criticized public officials for not addressing community resistance and the lack of adequate time for communities to assess financial and other impacts. This project is one of several data center developments slated for various parishes across Louisiana, including Richland, West Feliciana, Caddo, and Bossier.