Applied Digital has reached a community benefit agreement that will deliver $4 million to the Town of Boyce to fund improvements, infrastructure enhancements, and economic growth. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The deal covers the area adjacent to the company’s Delta Forge 1 AI Factory, a $3.6 billion data center project under development in Rapides Parish. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce This arrangement provides direct support to the local community located nearest the site and is intended to generate lasting advantages through targeted investments in public facilities and local development initiatives. 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 ensures the community closest to the project receives meaningful long-term benefits. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The mayor emphasized that residents in the immediate vicinity should see tangible returns from the large-scale development taking place nearby. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill noted that Boyce’s location and connectivity made the arrangement logical. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce He highlighted how the town’s position relative to the project site supports a practical distribution of project-related opportunities. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams credited the mayor’s advocacy for securing the town’s share of project opportunities. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Adams pointed to the mayor’s efforts as instrumental in finalizing terms that direct resources specifically to Boyce. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The Applied Digital project has previously received PILOT terms approved by the England Economic and Industrial Development District and has prompted earlier coverage of job postings and land designation. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Those prior steps established the framework under which the current community benefit agreement was negotiated. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The $4 million commitment builds on that foundation by channeling funds into areas that directly affect daily life in Boyce, including infrastructure upgrades and programs aimed at supporting economic activity. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta power demands draw opposition
Separately, Entergy Louisiana is advancing plans to supply a Meta data center under construction in Richland Parish. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The facility is projected to require roughly 4,500 megawatts of power on a continual basis. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say That figure is approximately four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts set by Entergy New Orleans customers during a June 2022 heat wave. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The comparison underscores the scale of the projected load relative to historical peak demand recorded in another part of the state. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Members of the Take the Power Back campaign described the scale as absurd and raised concerns about impacts on the energy grid, water supply, and air quality from new gas-fired generation. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The group protested a proposed New Orleans zoning change that would permit smaller data centers inside city limits. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Their objections center on the broader implications of accommodating substantial new electricity users and the associated infrastructure requirements. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Entergy Louisiana has stated that the 20-year agreement requires Meta to pay the full cost of required infrastructure and that the project will not raise rates for other customers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The company also pointed to more than 1,500 jobs tied to the buildout and noted that Governor Jeff Landry has directed data centers to cover their own costs. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These statements form part of the utility’s public position on how the project’s expenses and benefits are allocated. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
PSC declines disclosure order
The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently voted to overturn an administrative law judge’s order that would have required Meta to disclose the methodology behind its job projections and electricity-need calculations for the Richland Parish project. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The commission’s decision means the detailed calculations supporting the project’s power and employment estimates will not be made public through that particular process. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Logan Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the commission’s action. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Burke’s remarks addressed the outcome of the vote and its effect on transparency regarding the project’s underlying assumptions. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
The Boyce agreement illustrates one mechanism for channeling direct local returns from large-scale data center investment. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce At the same time, the Meta project highlights ongoing questions about how power requirements are calculated and reviewed by state regulators. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Both cases involve major capital commitments and infrastructure planning that affect Louisiana communities and ratepayers. 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 Applied Digital project has previously received PILOT terms approved by the England Economic and Industrial Development District and has prompted earlier coverage of job postings and land designation. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Those elements remain part of the project’s regulatory and public record. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The Richland Parish facility continues to advance under its separate power-supply arrangement with Entergy. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Public records and commission proceedings remain the primary sources for details on cost allocation and oversight. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The contrast between the two projects shows different approaches to local benefit sharing and regulatory scrutiny in Louisiana’s expanding data center sector. 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 in Boyce have expressed support for the agreement because it directs resources to the town most directly affected by construction and operations. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The $4 million will be used for improvements, infrastructure enhancements, and economic growth initiatives that local officials believe will strengthen the area over time. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Meanwhile, discussions around the Meta facility continue to focus on the size of its electricity demand and the processes used to evaluate that demand. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The Public Service Commission’s recent vote keeps those evaluation methods from being disclosed in the manner originally ordered by the administrative law judge. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Taken together, the developments reflect the range of issues that accompany major data center projects in Louisiana, from negotiated community payments to debates over energy planning and regulatory transparency. 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 one town securing dedicated funding, while the Richland Parish project illustrates how questions about power needs and job estimates can become points of contention before state regulators. 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) Both situations remain active as construction proceeds and oversight continues through established channels. 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)
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