Applied Digital and Boyce Reach 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 Wednesday, October 14. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital is the digital infrastructure company building a $3.6 billion data center, called the Delta Forge I AI Factory, just across the street from Boyce. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce This agreement came about after extended talks involving Louisiana Central and Applied Digital focused on ensuring the town receives tangible, lasting advantages from the nearby data center development. 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 issued a statement emphasizing that a project of this scale should generate meaningful opportunities for the communities located nearest to it. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO and President Chris Masingill noted that the arrangement aligned with Boyce’s position, its connectivity options and its direct ties to the project area. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital’s Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams praised the mayor’s efforts to secure these outcomes for residents. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The $4 million commitment is intended to fund local projects that address immediate needs while also laying groundwork for sustained progress in the area. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Officials described the agreement as a direct result of proactive engagement between the company and town leadership, with both sides recognizing the importance of shared benefits from large infrastructure investments. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The funds are expected to help the town address priorities such as road work, public facilities and other enhancements that support daily life for Boyce residents. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Town leadership has stressed that proximity to the Delta Forge I AI Factory creates both opportunities and responsibilities, and the agreement reflects an effort to balance those factors. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta Data Center Power Needs Spark Debate
Entergy Louisiana says concerns are misguided regarding the massive power needs of the Meta data center under construction in Richland Parish. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Meta’s data center is estimated to consume roughly four times the 1,160 megawatts that Entergy New Orleans customers consumed during a single-day record in June 2022, on a continual basis. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say In a filing last month with MISO, Entergy revealed the proposed substation located near the data center will generate 4,500 megawatts of power for the facility. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The scale of these requirements has prompted questions from residents and advocacy groups about long-term effects on the regional grid and surrounding communities. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Members of the Take the Power Back campaign gathered at New Orleans City Hall on October 13 to protest a proposed zoning change that would allow for smaller data centers to be developed within the city. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The campaign also protests 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 Volunteer organizer Kendall Berry described the scale as absurd for a single project that nobody asked for and nobody was consulted about. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Volunteer organizer Devorah Lea cited strain on the energy grid, water supply, and the need to build gas-fired power plants that will pollute the air. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Campaign participants have argued that the cumulative demands of multiple large facilities could reshape energy planning across the state in ways that warrant closer public examination. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Entergy Louisiana pushed back on claims of driving up ratepayer bills. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The company previously said its 20-year deal with Meta includes the social media giant paying for the huge amounts of electrical infrastructure being built. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy also emphasizes the more than 1,500 jobs attached to that buildout. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The company stated that the Richland Parish data center will pay its full and fair share and that suggestions the agreement will raise costs for other customers are false. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Company representatives have reiterated that the project was structured to isolate costs and prevent spillover effects on residential or small-business rates. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Louisiana Public Service Commission Action on Meta Disclosures
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 decision to overrule the ALJ. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The vote has drawn attention to questions of transparency and the level of detail regulators should require from large energy users before approving major infrastructure commitments. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
The $4 million agreement with Boyce represents an opportunity to make improvements that will benefit residents, strengthen infrastructure and help build a future for generations to come, according to Mayor McCoy. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Governor Jeff Landry has been clear that data centers must pay their own way in Louisiana, and the Meta project aligns directly with that directive, bringing significant investment and long-term benefits to the state, Entergy stated. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say In other parts of the country, several states and cities have placed a moratorium on new data centers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Here in Louisiana, the real cost and benefit of data centers depends on who you ask. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
The Applied Digital project in Rapides Parish and the Meta facility in Richland Parish illustrate different aspects of how large-scale data center investments are being structured and contested 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 community benefits, power infrastructure costs, and regulatory transparency continue to shape the conversation. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Local leaders in Boyce have focused on securing direct support for nearby residents, while debates in Richland Parish center on grid capacity and cost allocation. 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 Both projects highlight the varying approaches communities and companies are taking as data center development expands across 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) The outcomes of these efforts will likely influence how future proposals are negotiated and reviewed by state and local officials. ‘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