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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – A major economic development project is underway in North Louisiana.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry visited the Rayville Civic Center on December 4 to announce plans for Meta to build a multi-billion dollar artificial intelligence optimal data center in Richland Parish.
The center will be 4 million square feet. Meta said this is their largest investment yet as a company, and construction will start in December 2024 and last through 2030.
Landry said this is one of the “largest private capital investments in the state’s history.”
“Meta projects the data center will support 500 or more direct new jobs in Richland Parish,” Landry said. “LED estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the Northeast Region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on the 2,250-acre former Franklin Farm mega site that sits between the municipalities of Rayville and Delhi, about 30 miles east of Monroe.”
Centers like the one Meta is building in Richland Parish hold large amounts of data needed to support digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). Meta said this is the company’s largest data center out of more than 20 Meta data centers globally.
Meta announced it will build a 4 million square foot data center in Richland Parish.(Source: Meta)
Entergy said it will add clean and efficient power plants to meet the growing power demands, which include those from Meta’s data center.
“Meta has pledged to match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy to the grid through its Geaux Zero program. In addition, Meta has committed to contribute up to $1 million a year to Entergy’s ‘The Power to Care’ low-income ratepayer support program, a figure that will be matched by Entergy Louisiana,” Landry said.
Meta made several more pledges such as restoring more water than the data center consumes by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana, investing more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, such as roads and water systems, and partnering with local schools and organizations to train workers for the jobs that will be created.
“This project will create a transformational change for the residents of the entire Northeast Region,” said Grow NELA President and CEO Rob Cleveland. “Meta chose northeast Louisiana because of the availability of reliable, low-cost energy; access to flat, developable land and a business-friendly environment led by Governor Landry. This project opens the floodgates for data center development in Louisiana, and we are prepared for what’s ahead.”
KNOE will have team coverage of the announcement and its impact on the region tonight in all shows.
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KNOE 8 News will live stream the announcement on our website, YouTube Channel and Facebook page.
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