# Applied Digital and Meta Secure Major Louisiana Data Center Agreements
Applied Digital has reached a community benefit agreement providing $4 million to the Town of Boyce to support local improvements, infrastructure enhancements, 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 This arrangement marks a structured approach to delivering direct support for the community adjacent to the large-scale development. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the agreement represents an opportunity to make improvements that will benefit residents, strengthen infrastructure, and build a better future. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Discussions involved Louisiana Central and Applied Digital to ensure the town received long-term benefits from the project. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO and President Chris Masingill noted the arrangement aligned with Boyce's geographic location, connectivity, and relationship to the project area. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams commended the mayor's advocacy. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The statements from local leaders and company representatives underscore the emphasis placed on aligning the project with community priorities and long-term regional advantages. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The community benefit agreement is designed to channel resources into tangible local outcomes. Officials have highlighted how the funding can address immediate needs while supporting sustained growth in the area surrounding the planned facility. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce By focusing on infrastructure and economic initiatives, the pact aims to create lasting value for residents without altering the core project scope or introducing additional financial obligations beyond the stated terms. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta Data Center Power Arrangements in Richland Parish
Meta's data center under construction in Richland Parish is estimated to consume roughly 4,500 megawatts of power on a continual basis. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say This figure is approximately four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts set by Entergy New Orleans customers during peak demand in June 2022. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy Louisiana has lobbied the state's Public Service Commission to fast-track plans for up to 10 new gas-fueled power plants to meet these needs. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The scale of the projected demand has prompted detailed examination of how such requirements compare to existing utility benchmarks and historical consumption patterns. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Opponents from the Take the Power Back campaign described the power requirements as absurd for a single project and raised concerns about impacts on the energy grid, water supply, and air quality from additional gas-fired plants. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The campaign also protested a proposed zoning change in New Orleans that would allow smaller data centers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These positions reflect broader questions about balancing large-scale industrial development with protections for local resources and infrastructure capacity. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Entergy Louisiana stated that the 20-year deal with Meta requires the company to pay for the electrical infrastructure being built and includes more than 1,500 jobs tied to the buildout. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility emphasized that the project will pay its full and fair share without subsidizing costs for other customers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Governor Jeff Landry has directed that data centers must pay their own way, and Entergy said the Richland Parish project aligns with that approach while delivering investment and long-term benefits. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility's comments stress the importance of cost allocation that isolates project expenses from the general rate base. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Regulatory Review of Project Calculations
The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted down an administrative law judge's order that would have required Meta to disclose how it calculated job projections and electricity needs for the Richland Parish data center. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Logan Burke, executive director with the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the commission's action in a LaPolitics Q&A. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The decision leaves certain methodological details undisclosed at this stage while the project moves forward under existing regulatory frameworks. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Similar reporting on the Meta project power needs and Entergy's response appeared across multiple outlets. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Coverage has consistently referenced the same core figures and statements from involved parties, reinforcing the public record around the Richland Parish development. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Why it matters for Louisiana
These agreements illustrate how data center developers are structuring direct payments to nearby communities and long-term energy contracts while state regulators examine cost allocation and transparency. The Boyce pact provides immediate local funding tied to a specific facility, and the Meta arrangement places infrastructure expenses on the project developer under existing state policy. Public discussion continues around grid impacts and the scale of power demand relative to historical utility peaks. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The combination of community-level agreements and utility-scale power planning shows how Louisiana is navigating rapid growth in AI-related infrastructure. Local officials in Boyce have focused on securing dedicated resources for their town, while Entergy Louisiana has outlined mechanisms to prevent cost shifting to other ratepayers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Regulatory actions at the Public Service Commission level have addressed procedural questions without altering the fundamental project timelines. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Across both projects, the emphasis remains on documented commitments that tie developer responsibilities to specific outcomes. The $4 million agreement in Boyce and the infrastructure payment structure for the Meta facility represent distinct but related strategies for managing local impacts. 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 public and regulatory attention will likely center on verifying that these arrangements deliver the stated benefits without unexpected burdens on existing systems. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
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