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Meta expands Louisiana data center to 5 gigawatts in AI infrastructure push
Fox Business • • business
Key Points:
- Meta is expanding its data center project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, to 5 gigawatts of compute capacity, making it one of the largest data centers in history with a total investment exceeding $50 billion.
- The data center is expected to create over 1,000 jobs and has already generated more than $1.6 billion in contracts for Louisiana businesses since December 2024.
- Meta plans to invest over $1 billion in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems, and has an energy agreement projected to save Entergy Louisiana customers more than $2 billion over 20 years.
- The project is significantly benefiting the local community, with teachers receiving increased annual bonuses and the school district attracting stronger candidates due to increased tax revenue from the data center.
- Meta is donating $5 million to Louisiana Delta Community College for scholarships aimed at training residents for data center jobs, and all Richland Parish high school graduates starting in 2026 will be eligible for full scholarships in related trade programs.
