Applied Digital and Boyce 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. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce 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 Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the agreement represents an opportunity to make improvements that will benefit residents, strengthen infrastructure and help build a better future. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The deal emerged through discussions with Louisiana Central and Applied Digital to ensure the town saw real and long-term benefits from the data center. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO and President Chris Masingill noted that the arrangement made sense given Boyce’s geographic location, connectivity and relationship to the project area. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital’s Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams commended the mayor’s advocacy. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The community benefit agreement focuses on directing resources toward projects that address local needs in Boyce. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce By channeling the $4 million into infrastructure and growth initiatives, the town aims to leverage the proximity of the Delta Forge I facility for sustained advantages. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Discussions between town leaders, Louisiana Central and Applied Digital centered on creating tangible outcomes that extend beyond the construction phase. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Mayor McCoy emphasized the potential for these funds to support enhancements that improve daily life for residents while preparing the community for future development tied to the data center. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta Data Center Power Arrangements
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 Entergy Louisiana has lobbied the state’s Public Service Commission to fast-track plans to build 10 new gas-fueled power plants to meet the electrical needs of the facility. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say In a filing with MISO, Entergy revealed the proposed substation near the data center will generate 4,500 megawatts for the project. 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. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The campaign has protested the Richland Parish data center, claiming such facilities will hurt the environment and cause energy bills to rise. 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 being built 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 The company emphasized more than 1,500 jobs attached to the buildout and noted that Governor Jeff Landry has been clear that data centers must pay their own way. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
The scale of the power demand has prompted detailed scrutiny of how the substation and associated plants will integrate with existing systems. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy’s commitments under the agreement seek to isolate expenses to the Meta project, avoiding broader impacts on ratepayers across the service territory. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Campaign representatives continue to raise concerns about long-term environmental effects and the precedent set by such large-scale consumption in a single location. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Regulatory Review at the PSC
The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently voted down its 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 Logan Burke, executive director with the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the commission’s action. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
The decision leaves questions about project assumptions unresolved at the regulatory level. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Advocates monitoring the proceedings have highlighted the importance of transparency in evaluating the full scope of impacts from the Richland Parish facility. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
The Applied Digital agreement directs funds toward local infrastructure and growth in Boyce near the Delta Forge I project. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The Meta arrangements involve substantial power infrastructure commitments and ongoing regulatory oversight by the Public Service Commission. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Local officials and advocacy groups continue to examine how these projects affect nearby communities and ratepayers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Community benefit agreements and power supply contracts represent key elements of data center development strategies in the state. 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 Discussions around transparency in project calculations remain active at the regulatory level. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta In Boyce, the $4 million commitment provides a framework for addressing immediate and longer-term needs tied directly to the data center’s location. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Officials have described the process as one that balances economic opportunities with community priorities through structured negotiations. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
For the Meta project, the 20-year power agreement and associated infrastructure plans illustrate the complexities of meeting concentrated demand while addressing stakeholder concerns. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy’s assurances regarding cost allocation aim to maintain stability for existing customers even as new generation resources are added. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say At the same time, the Public Service Commission’s recent vote underscores ongoing debates about disclosure requirements and the level of detail needed to assess project viability. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Across both projects, the interplay between local agreements, utility planning and state regulatory processes shapes how data center development proceeds in Louisiana parishes. 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) Community leaders, utility representatives and advocacy organizations each bring distinct perspectives to these conversations, focusing on benefits, costs and accountability measures. 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 outcomes of these efforts will influence how similar initiatives are structured in the future, particularly regarding infrastructure funding and power supply arrangements. 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 attention to these elements helps ensure that development aligns with both economic goals and community considerations throughout the state. ‘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
- 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