Louisiana Approves Entergy 2200MW Power Project for Meta Data Center

The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved Entergy Louisiana's plan to build three natural-gas fueled combined cycle combustion turbine power plants to supply electricity for Meta's massive data center in Northeast Louisiana, increasing Entergy's statewide generation capacity by about 20%. The approval came with concerns about the expedited process that bypassed the usual administrative law judge's recommendation, drawing opposition from public and ratepayer advocacy groups. Two of the plants will be located in Richland Parish and are expected to be operational by late 2028, with the third at Waterford site in St. Charles Parish by the end of 2029. Alongside the generation facilities, new transmission infrastructure will be developed to enhance grid reliability, with Meta covering its share of the costs to protect existing customers from financial burden. Entergy's stock rose following the approval, with analysts generally rating it as an outperform, though some valuation models indicate a potential downside risk. This initiative represents one of Louisiana's largest economic development projects and aligns with Entergy Louisiana's broader plan to bolster grid resilience and support sustainable energy growth.