Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is building the largest AI data center it has ever created in northeast Louisiana, with a planned investment of $10 billion. This massive facility, which will span 4 million square feet, is expected to create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, bringing a significant economic boost to Richland Parish, a rural area historically dependent on agriculture. The parish, which has a population of 20,000, has struggled with poverty and low employment rates, making the facility a potentially transformative development. Meta also plans to invest $200 million into local infrastructure improvements, particularly for road and water usage.
However, the project has sparked concerns among environmental groups, primarily due to the reliance on fossil fuels for energy. Meta’s data center will be powered by three natural gas plants being fast-tracked by Entergy, a major utility provider. These plants are projected to generate over 2,200 megawatts of power over 15 years. While Meta plans to contribute to renewable energy efforts in the future, some fear that the increased use of natural gas will lead to higher energy bills for Louisiana residents. Critics, such as the Alliance for Affordable Energy, worry that local residents could bear the cost of these plants once Meta’s contract expires.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is expanding its supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, with operations from companies like Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro also setting up shop in the city. Like the Meta project, xAI’s facility raises environmental concerns due to the strain on the power grid and emissions from its gas turbines, which contribute to air pollution. Local advocates, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, have raised alarms about the impact of xAI’s facility on nearby neighborhoods, particularly predominantly Black areas that have long faced industrial pollution.
Both projects highlight the growing demand for data centers driven by artificial intelligence, but they also underline the tension between technological development, energy needs, and environmental impact.