Gov. Jeff Landry touts $50 billion Meta data center expansion in Richland Parish, Louisiana

Meta announced an expansion of its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, representing an investment of more than $50 billion in AI infrastructure. The project includes an energy agreement with Entergy Louisiana that is expected to save customers over $2 billion in the next two decades, funds the construction of natural‑gas generators, grid‑scale batteries and nuclear uprates, and places the full cost of water, energy and related infrastructure on Meta. Local businesses have received more than $1.6 billion in contracts, and the company is providing scholarships, teacher bonuses and training programs through partnerships with community colleges and schools.

Governor Jeff Landry praised the investment, highlighting its economic impact and the benefits to local schools, the Richland Parish sheriff’s office and fire district. The governor’s remarks contrast with New Orleans officials, who have imposed a temporary ban on large data‑center projects and are reviewing zoning rules; the city’s Planning Commission is set to release a report on July 21. The divergence underscores a broader political clash between the state administration and New Orleans over development, criminal‑justice policy and resource allocation.