Applied Digital has reached a community benefit agreement providing $4 million to the Town of Boyce to support local improvements, infrastructure and economic growth. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The deal covers the area next to the company's planned Delta Forge 1 AI Factory, a $3.6 billion data center project in Rapides Parish. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Town of Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy stated that the agreement creates meaningful opportunities for the community closest to the project and ensures residents share in long-term benefits. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill noted that the arrangement aligns with Boyce's location and connectivity to the site. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Applied Digital's Community Engagement Coordinator Gail Adams credited the mayor's advocacy for securing the town's participation. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
The funding from the community benefit agreement is positioned to help the Town of Boyce prepare for the nearby development and to distribute some of the economic activity to residents in the immediate area. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce Officials have described the payment as a way to create lasting value for the community that will be most directly affected by construction and operations at the site. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The agreement reflects an effort to connect the project with local priorities through direct support for the town. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce This approach allows the town to address needs tied to the scale of the adjacent facility while providing resources that can be applied across multiple areas of municipal planning. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce The structure of the payment underscores an intent to balance large-scale development with nearby community considerations. Applied Digital agrees to $4 million community benefit deal for Boyce
Meta data center power agreement under review
Separately, Entergy Louisiana has moved forward with plans to supply power to 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 roughly 4,500 megawatts on a continual basis, about four times the single-day record of 1,160 megawatts set by Entergy New Orleans customers in June 2022. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy has asked the Louisiana Public Service Commission to fast-track approvals for new gas-fueled power plants to meet the demand. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility maintains that a 20-year agreement requires Meta to cover the full cost of infrastructure, with no subsidy from other customers, and that the project will support more than 1,500 jobs during buildout. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Opponents organized by the Take the Power Back campaign have described the scale of power needs as absurd and raised concerns about impacts on the energy grid, water supply and air quality from additional gas 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 that would allow smaller data centers. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Entergy has stated that the Richland Parish project aligns with state policy requiring data centers to pay their own way and that claims of higher costs for other customers are unfounded. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
The power agreement continues to draw attention because of the size of the projected load and the steps the utility is taking to secure new generation resources. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Discussions have focused on whether the arrangement fully protects ratepayers and how the added generation will affect the broader system. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The utility has repeated that the contract structure places all infrastructure costs on the data center operator. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say These points have been reiterated across multiple updates as the project advances through regulatory channels. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The emphasis on cost recovery remains central to the utility's position in ongoing proceedings. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say
Regulatory decision on project details
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 Executive director Logan Burke of the Alliance for Affordable Energy commented on the commission's action in a LaPolitics Q&A. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta The decision leaves the existing projections in place without additional disclosure requirements at this stage. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta This outcome means the original figures provided by the company stand as submitted for the purposes of the current review process. ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta
Why it matters for Louisiana
These agreements illustrate differing approaches to community and infrastructure commitments tied to large data center investments in the state. The Boyce arrangement provides direct local funding, while the Meta power deal and related regulatory steps continue to generate debate over cost allocation and 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) Both projects remain subject to ongoing local and state oversight as construction proceeds. 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 contrast between the two projects highlights how different developers are handling local engagement and regulatory processes. 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 project has produced an upfront payment to a nearby town, while the other has prompted extended discussion at the state level about power supply and 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) Observers note that the Boyce agreement focuses on immediate community support while the Richland Parish matter centers on long-term infrastructure and disclosure questions. 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 two cases together show the range of issues that can arise when large facilities move from planning into active development. 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)
Additional reporting on the Meta facility has repeated the same power demand estimates and Entergy response without new details. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say Coverage has continued to reference the same figures for electricity needs and the utility's position on cost recovery. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say No updated projections or revised agreements have been introduced in subsequent accounts. Massive power needs of Meta data center in Richland Parish are ‘absurd,’ opponents say The repetition of these core elements indicates that the public record on the project has not shifted in recent updates. 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
- ‘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
- 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