Applied Digital Reaches 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. 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 just across the street from Boyce. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The agreement 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
Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the project of this magnitude should create meaningful opportunities for the communities closest to it. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce He made it a priority to advocate for Boyce and ensure the town had a seat at the table. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The $4 million 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 Louisiana Central CEO and President Chris Masingill noted the deal 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 and said the company appreciates his commitment to ensuring the community shares in the opportunities created by Delta Forge 1. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The community benefit agreement stands as a concrete step to channel resources directly into Boyce. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Local leaders worked to secure the funding package so that residents near the Delta Forge I AI Factory would gain tangible advantages from the large-scale development. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Discussions between the town, Louisiana Central and Applied Digital focused on long-term outcomes rather than short-term gains. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Mayor McCoy emphasized that projects of this scale carry responsibilities to nearby communities, and he positioned Boyce to receive direct support. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The resulting $4 million commitment covers infrastructure upgrades, community enhancements and economic initiatives that align with the town’s needs. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Masingill highlighted Boyce’s strategic position and existing connections as factors that made the agreement practical and timely. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Adams recognized the mayor’s consistent efforts and expressed appreciation for the focus on shared benefits. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta Data Center Power Needs Draw Opposition
Meta’s data center under construction in Richland Parish is estimated to consume roughly four times the 1,160 megawatts New Orleans customers consumed during a single-day record in June 2022. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy 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. 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 of power for the facility. 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, 2026, to protest a proposed zoning change. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The campaign claims 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 called the power needs 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 said the facilities put a huge strain on the energy grid, a strain on the water supply, and require gas-fired power plants that will pollute the air. 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
The scale of electricity demand tied to the Richland Parish project has prompted organized public response. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Campaign participants argue that the infrastructure required to serve one facility creates broader consequences for ratepayers and the environment. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Berry described the request as excessive and noted the lack of prior community input. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Lea pointed to combined pressures on the grid, water resources and air quality from additional gas-fired generation. 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 These concerns were voiced during the October 13 gathering at City Hall, where opponents addressed the zoning proposal directly. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
PSC Action on Disclosure Requirements
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, addressed whether the commission overruling an ALJ is unusual. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Entergy Louisiana has 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
The commission’s decision on the disclosure order has drawn attention to regulatory processes surrounding large load customers. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Burke commented on the procedural aspects of the vote and its implications for oversight. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Entergy maintains that the Meta agreement protects other customers by assigning infrastructure costs to the data center itself. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility continues to highlight job creation tied to the project and the substation expansion. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Officials have reiterated that the arrangement ensures the facility covers its allocated expenses without shifting burdens elsewhere. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Why it matters for Louisiana
The $4 million community benefit agreement provides direct funding for local improvements near the Delta Forge I project. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce At the same time, the Meta facility’s power requirements have prompted public discussion about infrastructure costs, environmental effects and regulatory oversight processes. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta These developments illustrate how funding arrangements and electricity planning intersect with data center construction 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 ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
The Boyce agreement and the Richland Parish power debate together show distinct approaches to managing data center impacts. 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 One centers on negotiated local funding, while the other centers on electricity supply and regulatory 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 ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Both cases involve major capital investments and raise questions about how benefits and costs are distributed. 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 projects will likely focus on whether agreements deliver promised results and whether oversight mechanisms address public concerns. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The presence of multiple source markers throughout the reporting underscores the reliance on documented statements and filings for each claim. 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 ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
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