# Applied Digital Secures $4 Million Boyce Deal as Meta Project Advances
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. 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 across the street from the town. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The agreement marks a structured approach to channeling project-related resources toward the host community as construction activity begins to take shape nearby. This commitment comes at a time when the facility is moving forward, allowing the town to plan for enhancements that align with the scale of the nearby development. 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 and strengthen infrastructure. 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 These remarks reflect the sequence of conversations that produced the funding commitment and the emphasis placed on sustained advantages for residents living near the facility. The involvement of multiple parties highlights the collaborative nature of reaching an accord that addresses both project needs and community priorities over an extended period.
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. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy New Orleans customers set a single-day record by consuming 1,160 megawatts during peak demand in June 2022. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Opponents described the scale as absurd for a single project. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The contrast between the projected continuous load and historical peak usage has become a central point in public discussion about the facility’s overall footprint. Such comparisons underscore the magnitude of the energy requirements relative to existing consumption patterns in the region.
Members of the Take the Power Back campaign gathered at New Orleans City Hall on October 13, 2026, to protest a proposed zoning change for smaller data centers while also raising concerns about the Richland Parish facility. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Campaign organizers cited strains 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 has stated that the 20-year deal with Meta requires the company to pay 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 directed that data centers must pay their own way. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Utility representatives have repeatedly pointed to these contractual provisions as protection for existing ratepayers while the project advances. The emphasis on job creation and self-funded infrastructure forms a key part of the utility's position in response to public concerns.
Public Service Commission Decision on Disclosure
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 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 vote means the additional disclosure requirements outlined by the judge will not take effect, leaving the existing record as the primary source of information on those projections. This outcome maintains the current level of information available to the public regarding the project's anticipated impacts.
Why it matters for Louisiana
These developments show how data center projects are prompting both direct community funding agreements and regulatory examination of power and job claims. 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 agreement provides a concrete example of local benefits tied to a major facility, while the Meta project continues to generate debate over infrastructure costs and transparency. 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 Entergy maintains that safeguards in its contract protect ratepayers, and state policy requires projects to cover their own expenses. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The PSC ruling limits additional disclosure requirements at this stage. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Local officials in Boyce have positioned the $4 million commitment as a way to build long-term value for residents near the Delta Forge I site. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Broader discussions across the state reflect differing views on how large-scale AI infrastructure should be financed and regulated. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The Boyce arrangement demonstrates one mechanism for directing resources to a host community, while the Richland Parish proceedings illustrate ongoing scrutiny of energy demand and employment estimates. Together the two situations underscore the range of local and state-level responses that accompany major AI-related construction in Louisiana. Officials continue to weigh the immediate economic signals against longer-term questions of grid capacity and cost allocation as both projects proceed. The interplay between these local agreements and state regulatory decisions shapes the evolving landscape for such developments throughout the region.
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