Applied Digital has reached a $4 million community benefit agreement with the Town of Boyce to fund improvements, infrastructure enhancements and economic growth. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The digital infrastructure company is building the $3.6 billion Delta Forge 1 AI Factory directly across from the town in Rapides Parish. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Town officials announced the agreement on October 14, 2026, following discussions involving Louisiana Central. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The agreement marks a formal step to direct resources toward the community located nearest the large-scale development. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Local leaders have described the funding as a way to address needs that arise from proximity to such a major project. 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
Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the project of this magnitude should create meaningful opportunities for the closest communities and that he prioritized ensuring the town had a seat at the table. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill noted that the deal aligned with Boyce’s 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 said the company appreciates the mayor’s commitment to sharing opportunities created by Delta Forge 1. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce These statements reflect a shared emphasis on ensuring that nearby residents are positioned to benefit from the investment. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The coordination among town leadership, Louisiana Central and the company underscores the structured approach taken to finalize the terms. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta project draws power scrutiny
Separately, Entergy Louisiana is advancing plans to supply Meta’s data center under construction in Richland Parish. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The facility is estimated to require a substation capable of delivering 4,500 megawatts on a continual basis. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say That figure is roughly four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts consumed 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 highlights the substantial scale of the projected demand relative to existing system peaks. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Opponents organized by the Take the Power Back campaign described the scale as absurd for a single project and raised concerns about strain on the energy grid, water supply and the need for additional gas-fired power plants. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The group protested a proposed zoning change in New Orleans on October 13, 2026, while continuing to oppose the Richland Parish development. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The protests illustrate ongoing public engagement with the project’s 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 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 The company pointed to more than 1,500 jobs tied to the buildout and noted that Governor Jeff Landry has directed data centers to pay their own way. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These assurances address questions about cost allocation and economic contributions associated with the development. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility’s position emphasizes that infrastructure expenses will be covered directly by the project rather than distributed across the broader customer base. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Regulatory review of projections
The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently 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 of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the commission’s action in a LaPolitics Q&A published October 16, 2026. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The vote leaves the calculations for jobs and power needs without the additional disclosure step that had been proposed. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The decision comes amid broader discussion of how such projections are evaluated in regulatory proceedings. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
These developments illustrate how data-center projects are generating both direct community funding and large-scale utility commitments across different parishes. 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 Boyce agreement provides a concrete mechanism for nearby residents to receive targeted benefits from the Delta Forge 1 investment. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce At the same time, the Meta project’s power requirements have prompted public debate and regulatory examination of cost allocation and transparency. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Louisiana officials continue to emphasize that such facilities must cover their infrastructure expenses while delivering long-term economic activity. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The outcomes of these funding structures and oversight processes will shape how future AI-related infrastructure affects local governments, ratepayers and state energy planning. 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) Across the state, similar projects continue to prompt conversations about balancing growth with local impacts and resource planning. 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 combination of community agreements, utility arrangements and regulatory steps shows the multiple layers involved in advancing large data-center facilities. 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) Observers note that the approaches taken in Rapides Parish and Richland Parish offer examples of how different parishes are addressing the presence of major digital infrastructure investments. 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 processes will inform how Louisiana manages the expansion of AI-related facilities in the years ahead. Massive power needs of Meta data center in 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