Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 22, The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) has approved an agreement allowing Entergy Louisiana to move forward with major infrastructure investments tied to Meta’s new data centre in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The decision paves the way for enhancements to the state’s electric grid, benefiting all Entergy Louisiana customers and preparing the system for future energy requirements.

The agreement permits Entergy Louisiana to construct three new modern and efficient combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facilities.

Under the agreement, Entergy Louisiana will construct three advanced combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facilities. Two of the plants will be located in Richland Parish, with operations expected to begin in late 2028, while the third facility will be built at Entergy’s existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish and is planned to start operations by the end of 2029. In addition, Entergy will establish new transmission facilities to support Meta’s data centre and strengthen reliability across its service territory.

Entergy Louisiana president and CEO Phillip May commented: “Today’s decision by the commission is a critical step toward ensuring the long-term reliability and affordability of electric service for all of our customers. These investments will help power one of the most advanced data centres in the world and will also reinforce our grid, create economic opportunity and support a more sustainable energy future across Louisiana. Importantly, Meta is paying its share of the costs for the infrastructure needed to support its operations, ensuring that other customers are protected from those expenses.”

As part of the approval, the Commission has also authorized Entergy Louisiana to acquire 1,500MW of solar resources through an expedited certification process. This development supports large-scale customers in achieving renewable energy and sustainability goals, while also advancing Louisiana’s broader economic development priorities.

The Richland Parish data centre, announced in 2024, is regarded as one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history. Entergy has already begun construction of a key substation to provide power to the facility and plans to continue investing in grid improvements that stimulate regional growth.

These initiatives represent a significant milestone in Entergy’s ongoing efforts to create a smarter, more resilient and sustainable energy system. The projects will serve a wide range of customers, including residents, small businesses, and larger industrial and technology firms.

In addition to Entergy’s commitments, Meta has advanced its clean energy strategy by signing a power purchase agreement in March 2025 with RWE. The agreement covers offtake from RWE’s 200MW Waterloo solar project in Bastrop County, Texas, underscoring Meta’s efforts to secure renewable power for its operations.

Together, the infrastructure investments and renewable energy acquisitions are set to reinforce Louisiana’s energy future, align with sustainability objectives, and contribute to long-term economic development in the region.