Louisianas $3B power upgrade for Meta project raises questions about who should foot the bill

Holly Ridge, La. (AP) – Meta in the rural corner of Louisiana is building one of the largest data centers in the world, 10 billion dollars giant At the summer summit in one day, 70 football fields will consume more power than the entire city of New Orleans.

Although it is impossible to miss the enormous project in Richland Parish, an agricultural group of 20,000 residents, everything, including the new electric infrastructure required to strengthen the establishment of the social media giant, is not seen, including more than $ 3 billion.

The guards warned that they were in a hurry to benefit. Data Center Bang Working with AISome states allow major technology companies to direct expensive infrastructure projects with limited surveillance.

Mississippi deputies allowed Amazon’s energy infrastructure to serve two data centers. 10 billion dollars to build. In Indiana, a public service proposes a data center -oriented subsidiary operating other than normal government regulations. Louisiana says that consumer measures are added, while in their efforts to isolate regular power consumers from data center costs, they are behind other states.

Environmental Defense Group Earthjustice lawyer Mandy Deroche says there is less transparency due to confidentiality agreements and hurry.

Deroche, “You can not follow the facts, you can not follow the benefits or negative effects that may come to the service area or community,” he said.

Within the scope of the contract with Meta, Power Company Entergy agreed to build three gas -powered plants to produce 2,262 megawatts equivalent to one -fifth of Entergy’s existing power supply in Louisiana. The Public Service Commission approved Meta’s infrastructure plan in August after Entergy agreed to increase the protection to prevent an increase in housing rates.

However, hiding agreements hide how much Meta will pay.

He tried consumer defenders, but forced Meta to provide sworn expressions, submit to discoveries, and forcing them to forced them for cross -examination during a regulatory examination. The organizers reviewed Meta’s contract with Entergy, but was banned from explaining the details.

When Meta does not deal with the EP’s questions about transparency, Louisiana’s Economic Development Agency and Entergy say that marking agreements are standard to protect sensitive commercial data.

Davante Lewis, which is only one of the five public service commissioners who voted against the plan, said that if gas -powered plants will create the most economical option or 500 promised 500 jobs, it is still unclear how much electricity the center will use.

“There is some information that we should know and know, but we shouldn’t have, Lewis said Lewis, Lewis, Lewis, Lewis said.

In addition, commodity is exempt from paying sales tax within the scope of the 2024 Louisiana law, in which the state acknowledges that it can lead to “tens of millions or more” every year. Lost income.

Meta, Consumer Defending Group, General Manager of the Affordable Price Alliance Logan Burke, including cost -effectives for 15 years, including the construction of approximately half of the cost of building power plants agreed to finance.

The Public Service Commission Jean-Paul Coussan insists that there will be a “very little” effect on price taxpayers.

However, Watchdogs warns that Meta will withdraw or renew its contract, leave the public to pay for the rest of its 30 -year life for energy power plants, and all grilled users are expected to help pay the $ 550 million transmission line that serves the meta’s facility.

Ari Peskoe, Director of Harvard University Electrical Law Initiative, said that technology companies should pay for every penny, so that the public has no bag holders ”.

Other places, technology companies are not given such a way. More than one dozen state They have taken steps to protect their households and work fees taxpayers from paying for increased electricity costs connected to the energy hungry data centers.

The Public Services Commission of Pennsylvania is preparing a model ratio structure to insulate customers from increasing costs for data centers. New Jersey’s public services regulators examine whether data centers cause “unreasonable” cost increases for other users. This year, Oregon ordered public services regulators to develop new and probably higher power rates for data centers.

And in June, Texas, ‘Kill Switch’ Law Strengthening to order data centers to reduce electrical loads to grid operators During emergencies.

Some Richland Parish residents are afraid of an explosion and a cycle of insects when the construction ends. Others expect an increase in school and health care finance. Meta said he plans to invest in 1,500 megawatt renewable energy and Richland Parish in Louisiana and that he plans to invest in $ 200 million water and road infrastructure.

Uz We don’t come from a rich congregation, and there is a need for money, ”said Trae Banks, who runs a plasterboard that has doubled since his arrival.

Mayor Jesse Washington in the nearby town of Delhi believes that at the end of the data center, it will have a positive impact on the 2,600 community.

However, for now, construction traffic disappoints residents and real estate prices as developers try to host thousands of construction workers. Washington says that more than a dozen low -income families have been evacuated than a trailer park that builds housing for the commodity workers from the owners.

“We are very concerned about – they put difficulties for many people in certain areas here.” He said. “I just want to see people from Delhi benefit from it.”

Brook reported it from New Orleans.

Brook is a member of the Corps for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News. Report for America It is a national service program that does not purify journalists in local news rooms.