New lawsuit could delay plans to power Meta’s Louisiana data center
Three advocacy groups sued the Louisiana Public Service Commission over a policy they say improperly changed approval rules for power infrastructure serving large electricity customers. The lawsuit could delay Entergy’s plans for seven natural gas power plants intended to support Meta’s data center in North Louisiana.
Three advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the Louisiana Public Service Commission, arguing that regulators changed the approval process for power plants and transmission lines serving large electricity customers without adequate public notice or an opportunity for public input. The policy could allow utilities such as Entergy to bypass certain standard approval steps.
The legal challenge could delay Entergy’s plans to build seven natural gas power plants associated with supplying Meta’s massive data center in North Louisiana. Third District Commissioner Devonte Lewis, the commission’s sole dissenting vote on the project, said courts will determine whether the commission followed its own rules and argued that Louisiana residents deserve a transparent regulatory process.