Applied Digital reaches community benefit agreement
The Town of Boyce reached a community benefit agreement with Applied Digital that will provide $4 million to support improvements, infrastructure enhancements and economic growth within the town. Officials announced the deal on October 14, 2026. Applied Digital is building the $3.6 billion Delta Forge I AI Factory data center just across the street from Boyce Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce. The agreement emerged through discussions with Louisiana Central and Applied Digital to ensure the town saw real and long-term benefits from the data center. Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that a project of this magnitude should create meaningful opportunities for the communities closest to it. Louisiana Central CEO and President Chris Masingill noted the deal made sense given Boyce’s geographic location, connectivity and relationship to the project area. Applied Digital’s Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams commended the mayor’s advocacy Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce.
Discussions leading to the agreement focused on delivering tangible advantages to residents living nearest the facility. The $4 million commitment is intended to fund local projects that address infrastructure needs and promote sustained economic activity in Boyce. Officials emphasized that the scale of the Delta Forge I development warranted direct support for the adjacent community. Mayor McCoy highlighted the importance of ensuring nearby towns benefit from large-scale industrial investments. Masingill pointed to Boyce’s strategic position and existing connections as factors that justified the arrangement. Adams praised the mayor’s efforts to secure these provisions during negotiations Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce. The community benefit agreement represents one approach to balancing data center growth with local priorities in Louisiana.
Meta data center power needs draw opposition
Meta’s data center under construction in Richland Parish is estimated to consume roughly 4,500 megawatts of power on a continual basis. This amount is about four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts consumed 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. Opponents from the Take the Power Back campaign described the power needs as absurd for a single project. They gathered at New Orleans City Hall on October 13, 2026, to protest related zoning changes and raised concerns about strain on the energy grid, water supply and the need for new gas-fired power plants Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say. Entergy Louisiana stated that the 20-year deal with Meta includes the company paying for the electrical infrastructure and that the project will not raise costs for other customers 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.
The estimated continuous demand of 4,500 megawatts has prompted public debate about the project’s scale relative to existing regional consumption patterns. Campaign members argued that such requirements exceed typical loads and could affect broader system reliability. The October 13 gathering at City Hall allowed residents to voice objections to proposed zoning adjustments tied to the development. Concerns centered on potential impacts to the electrical grid, local water resources and possible construction of additional generation facilities Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say. Entergy Louisiana has maintained that Meta will cover infrastructure expenses under the long-term agreement and that rates for other customers will remain unaffected 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. These statements have not fully resolved questions raised by opponents regarding overall grid capacity and resource allocation.
Public Service Commission declines disclosure order
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 its Richland Parish data center project ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta. The decision leaves certain details about the project’s anticipated employment and power requirements outside public view. Commissioners determined that the order was not necessary at this stage of review. The vote reflects the commission’s approach to handling information requests in large infrastructure cases.
Why it matters for Louisiana
These agreements and regulatory steps reflect ongoing negotiations between data center developers, utilities and local communities over infrastructure investments and power supply arrangements in the state. The Boyce community benefit agreement illustrates one method for channeling project benefits to nearby towns. At the same time, scrutiny of Meta’s power consumption and the commission’s ruling on disclosure show the range of questions that arise as facilities advance. Local officials, utilities and advocacy groups continue to engage on issues of cost allocation, resource use and transparency. The developments in Boyce and Richland Parish demonstrate how data center projects intersect with municipal planning, regulatory oversight and public input processes across Louisiana. Stakeholders on multiple sides are working to define terms that address both economic opportunities and operational demands. As additional projects move forward, similar discussions are expected to shape how infrastructure needs and community impacts are managed. The combination of direct financial commitments, utility assurances and commission decisions provides a snapshot of the current landscape for data center growth in the state.
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
- 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