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● LIVEResearch desk operatingU-37425Entergy LA filing · 7.2 GW load additionRICHLANDHyperion phase 3 permit acceptedCADDOSTACK substation civil mobilisingW. FELICIANAHut 8 River Bend hearing 06/03
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Meta Hyperion AI Data Center vs Delta Forge 1

Two Louisiana AI data center projects, compared on operator, parish, status, focus, and what to watch next. Click into either project for full detail and source citations.

AttributeMeta Hyperion AI Data CenterDelta Forge 1
OperatorMetaApplied Digital
ParentMeta Platforms, Inc.Applied Digital Corporation
ParishRichland ParishRapides Parish (near Boyce)
StatusUnder construction — Phase II power expansion remains under LPSC reviewUnder construction — Delta Forge 1 broke ground in January 2026
CategoryHyperscale AI/data-center campusAI compute & high-performance computing
SummaryMeta's Richland Parish campus is a $50B-class AI-optimized data center build — Meta confirmed a 5 GW build-out on July 13, 2026 — with roughly 4 million square feet across 2,250 acres. Phase I power is approved, while Entergy's Phase II expansion package remains under review at the LPSC.Louisiana Economic Development announced Delta Forge 1 as a $3.6 billion Rapides Parish AI factory build. Applied Digital describes 430 MW of total utility power, up to 300 MW of critical IT load, and initial operations targeted for mid-2027. Local reporting documented Project Lightning as an internal development codename; LouisianAI retains it in the stable legacy slug.
Why it mattersWatch U-37425 and U-37882, Entergy substation and transmission work, groundwater reporting, and the ratepayer-cost debate around the larger Hyperion buildout. Labor, civil, and support-service demand remains one of northeast Louisiana's clearest supplier signals.Watch Cleco delivery work, any project-specific LPSC proceedings, and the unresolved site-size scopes: Applied Digital has described more than 500 and more than 600 acres, while Louisiana's rollout describes approximately 300 acres for the two initial facilities.
Full detail · Meta Hyperion AI Data Center →Full detail · Delta Forge 1 →

LouisianAI comparison pages cross-link source-backed project detail. For any commercial or regulatory decision, consult the primary filings linked from the project detail pages.