|
|
|
Happy Friday!
July 25, 2025
|
|
|
|
The America First Energy Project here to bring you our perspective and matters we know are important for the community, decision makers, and economy of a strong, energy-independent state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Entergy’s Meta Power Proposal Could Spark New Energy Investment
|
|
|
|
|
|
The proposed $10 billion Meta AI data center in northeast Louisiana represents a transformative economic development opportunity for the region, promising thousands of construction jobs and up to 500 permanent positions once operational. While the project stands to provide a significant boost to the local economy, it also raises important considerations regarding how to meet its immense power demands. The expected power needed is projected to eventually rival the annual energy consumption of New Orleans several times over. Entergy has proposed building multiple natural gas-fired plants to serve the facility.
Balancing economic growth with energy sustainability is critical. While natural gas may provide the immediate capacity needed to power such a large facility, the scale of Meta’s energy consumption presents a unique opportunity to integrate clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal into the generation mix. Meta has already committed to developing 2,000 megawatts of solar energy capacity in Louisiana, and additional investment in renewables could help offset the long-term environmental impacts of the new generation facilities while enhancing grid resilience and reliability.
Incorporating a diverse energy portfolio to power the Meta data center would not only align with broader renewable energy goals but also strengthen Louisiana’s position as a competitive hub for technology-driven economic growth. By leveraging renewables alongside natural gas, the project can deliver both immediate reliability and long-term sustainability, ensuring that the benefits of this historic investment extend beyond job creation and tax revenue to include energy innovation and a cleaner, more resilient grid for the state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Jeff Arnold, America First Energy Project
|
|
|
|
This week America First Energy Project Louisiana attended the St. Helena Police Jury Meeting in Greensburg, Louisiana and the Iberia Parish Council meeting in New Iberia. We had great conversations with members of the Police Jury in St. Helena. Unfortunately, the Iberia Parish Council passed a solar ordinance that in effect bans solar projects in the parish. The ordinance was passed against their attorney’s recommendations as he outlined 8 reasons why the ordinance may run afoul of local, state and federal law.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solar plant to help power Meta’s data center
– Richland Today
|
|
RWE, the third-largest renewable energy firm in the U.S., has broken ground on a 100 MW solar project in Richland Parish to help power Meta’s nearby data center. The Lafitte Solar project marks RWE’s first utility-scale solar build in Louisiana and supports Meta’s goal of running on 100% renewable energy.
Beyond climate goals, the project offers a strong economic boost—supporting $3.2 million in wages, 140 construction jobs, and $31 million in long-term tax revenue for the region. The deal reflects a growing trend: major tech firms like Meta are accelerating clean energy development in new markets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
