Entergy Louisiana has filed an application, docket U-37882, asking the Louisiana Public Service Commission for approval to build 7 new natural gas power plants, in addition to the 3 approved last year, to meet Meta’s increased demand for power.
“This is an unprecedented ask,” said Logan Burke, Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Entergy is asking for 5,200 megawatts of new fossil fuel generation for a single customer (Meta), in addition to the 2,262 megawatts the Commission already approved in August 2025.
“We’re talking about 10 new gas power plants and over $16 Billion in new fossil fuel infrastructure. That’s a nearly 70% increase in Entergy Louisiana’s total gas capacity, adding to the already heavy dependence on the fuel, at a time when market analysts expect price volatility to continue,” said Burke.
“Meta and Entergy have made claims that customers will see more than $2 billion in savings because of the new deal, but look at what’s happening in states in the Northeast, where operational data centers are driving up costs for residents,” said Alaina DiLaura, PSC Policy Coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Energy. “How can we verify the claims Meta and Entergy are making about billions in benefits? It’s not clear that the new expedited review process created by the Public Service Commission’s Lightning Directive will allow for the scrutiny necessary to verify those benefits and the supposed ratepayer protections.”
There are decades of expenses tied to these gas plants. Meta pointing to upfront payments and charitable contributions doesn’t change the fundamental risk this deal places on Entergy Louisiana customers and Louisiana families in the long-term.
Recent reporting by Drew Hawkins and WWNO has made it clear there’s a lot that our elected officials might know about this data center project that they’re not sharing with us because they’ve signed NDAs with Meta and Entergy to conceal that information from the public and their constituents.
“Meta has taken steps to shield itself from the long-term financial risks of the project and since the announcement, Entergy’s stock has risen over 8.5%. What protections do Louisiana families have in the long-term?” said Emma Meyerkopf, Communications Manager for the Alliance for Affordable Energy. “The current agreements in place do not provide the kind of assurances and long-term certainty that customers need in this era of rapidly shifting AI partnerships and investments, where major companies like Disney are backing out of high-profile agreements.” Meta itself just recently shuttered its Metaverse project after investing $80 Billion in the dead-end.
This massive increase in scale and demand for energy will also mean a huge increase in CO2 emissions, almost 26 million metric tons per year just from the gas plants alone, and more demand for water. Residents near the facility in Richmond have already been reporting brown water, random power outages, and noise and danger from construction vehicles. Meta’s proposed expansion and Entergy Louisiana’s new application demands a full transparent review and an opportunity for the community to weigh in.
Media Contact: Emma Meyerkopf, Communications Manager, 504-229-4643, emma@all4energy.org
