Meta has announced plans to fund the construction of seven new natural gas power plants in Louisiana, which will support its $27 billion data center project. This development represents the company’s largest data center to date, covering 4 million square feet and currently under construction.
The deal, struck with Entergy Louisiana, includes the development of 240 miles of transmission lines that will operate at 500 kilovolts, as well as battery energy storage solutions at three sites. The natural gas plants will collectively provide a power output of 5,200 megawatts. Additionally, Meta will help finance up to 2,500 megawatts of new renewable energy resources.
Included in the agreement is a memorandum of understanding for potential nuclear power development. This energy initiative follows a non-binding pledge from tech companies, including Meta, aimed at alleviating rising electricity costs for local residents attributed to AI data centers.
The companies have committed to “build, bring, or buy” new generation resources to meet their energy demands, covering the full costs involved. Critics note that the pledge lacks formal agreements or enforcement mechanisms, raising concerns among local communities about the environmental impact of these power-intensive data centers.
A December poll indicated that 60% of Americans, across party lines, support increasing regulation of AI technologies. Prominent lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, recently introduced a bill seeking a moratorium on new data center constructions until regulations are established.
Concerns about tech companies’ commitments are growing amid skepticism regarding their ability to gain public trust without enforceable regulations. Local opposition reflects increasing frustration with the power consumption and environmental effects associated with the proliferation of AI data centers.
