# Applied Digital and Meta Advance Louisiana Data Center Deals
Applied Digital has reached a community benefit agreement providing $4 million to the Town of Boyce to support local improvements, infrastructure and economic growth. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The deal covers the area next to the company's planned Delta Forge I AI Factory, a $3.6 billion data center project in Rapides Parish. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The agreement represents a structured approach to addressing community needs alongside large-scale development. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce This commitment establishes a formal mechanism for directing resources toward town priorities identified through prior discussions. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The funding is positioned to assist with projects that align with the scale of the nearby facility. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the agreement followed discussions with Louisiana Central and Applied Digital to ensure nearby communities receive long-term benefits. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill noted the arrangement aligned with Boyce's location and connectivity to the project. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams credited the mayor's advocacy for securing community participation in project opportunities. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce These statements highlight the collaborative process that led to the final terms. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The $4 million commitment is intended to fund improvements that benefit residents in the immediate vicinity of the planned facility. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The sequence of conversations demonstrates how local input shaped the final agreement structure. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Officials involved described the outcome as responsive to the specific geographic context of the host community. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta Project Power Planning Draws Scrutiny
Separately, Entergy Louisiana is advancing plans to supply power to Meta's data center under construction in Richland Parish. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The facility is estimated to require a substation capable of delivering 4,500 megawatts on a continual basis. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say This figure is roughly four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts consumed by Entergy New Orleans customers during a June 2022 heat wave. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The comparison underscores the scale of the proposed demand relative to existing system peaks. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The substation planning reflects the projected operational requirements of the data center once fully online. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Opponents organized by the Take the Power Back campaign described the scale as absurd and raised concerns about impacts on the energy grid, water supply and air quality from associated gas-fired generation. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The group protested related zoning proposals in New Orleans on October 13, 2026. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Their objections focus on long-term effects for ratepayers and the environment. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The campaign has framed the substation capacity as disproportionate to historical consumption patterns in the region. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy Louisiana stated that the 20-year agreement requires Meta to pay the full cost of new infrastructure and that the project will not raise rates for other customers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The company also pointed to more than 1,500 jobs tied to the buildout and noted alignment with state policy that data centers must cover their own costs. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These positions were presented in response to questions about the project's overall footprint. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility emphasized that contractual terms place infrastructure expenses directly on the data center operator. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Regulatory Review of Project Assumptions
The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently declined to uphold an administrative law judge's order that would have required Meta to disclose the methodology behind its job projections and electricity demand estimates for the Richland Parish project. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Logan Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the commission's action in a LaPolitics interview. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The decision leaves the underlying assumptions subject to further examination by regulators. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Observers have noted that the outcome affects how project details are evaluated going forward. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The commission's choice maintains the current status of the filings without additional disclosure requirements at this stage. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
These agreements illustrate how data center developers are addressing local impacts through direct payments and infrastructure funding while state regulators examine the underlying assumptions of large-scale power needs. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce [kalb.com](https://www.kalb.com/2026/10/13/massive-power-needs-meta-data-center-richland-parish-are-absurd-opponents-say/‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta) The Boyce arrangement provides immediate resources for a host community, and the Meta project continues under a framework that assigns infrastructure costs to the company. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Continued oversight by the Public Service Commission will shape how future projects balance economic development with grid and ratepayer considerations. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The developments reflect ongoing coordination between developers, local officials and utilities. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The distinct mechanisms in each case show how different aspects of project impacts are being managed through separate channels. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce [kalb.com](https://www.kalb.com/2026/10/13/massive-power-needs-meta-data-center-richland-parish-are-absurd-opponents-say/‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta) Local leaders in Boyce have emphasized the value of the direct funding mechanism. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Entergy Louisiana has reiterated that costs remain the responsibility of the data center operator. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The Public Service Commission decision keeps certain methodological questions open for additional review. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Reporting from multiple sources on the October 13 events provides further context on the scale of the proposed demand. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These elements together demonstrate the layered process of project advancement in Louisiana. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce [kalb.com](https://www.kalb.com/2026/10/13/massive-power-needs-meta-data-center-richland-parish-are-absurd-opponents-say/‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta) Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The combination of community-level agreements and utility-level planning continues to evolve under regulatory scrutiny. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce [kalb.com](https://www.kalb.com/2026/10/13/massive-power-needs-meta-data-center-richland-parish-are-absurd-opponents-say/‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta)
Evidence Used
- Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce — Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
- Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say — Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
- ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta — ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
- Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say — Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say