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Finally Friday!
November 14, 2025
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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.
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Why Rural Parishes Are Becoming Louisiana’s Energy Backbone
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The Louisiana Rural Sustainability Conference in Vidalia this week brought together industry leaders, rural communities, and subject-matter experts to explore how evolving energy demands are shaping the future of economic development. The agenda highlighted the opportunities and challenges tied to Louisiana’s growing energy needs, featuring conversations on new energy technologies, market trends, community engagement, and sustainability planning. Speakers emphasized the essential role of rural parishes in advancing innovative solutions that support both local communities and statewide economic strength.
In the same week, Louisiana’s clean-energy momentum accelerated with the announcement of a long-term partnership between Meta Platforms, Inc. and Treaty Oak Clean Energy to deliver two large-scale solar projects totaling 385 MWac in Morehouse and Sabine Parishes. This milestone reinforces Louisiana’s competitiveness as a destination for major energy investments, driven by growing power demand and the need for resilient infrastructure. These projects are expected to generate new economic opportunities, support tax bases, and benefit landowners and local communities.
Echoing this progress, Urvi Parekh, Meta’s Head of Global Energy, stated, “Our partnership with Treaty Oak reflects Meta’s and Treaty Oak’s shared commitment to bringing new, additional clean energy to the local grid. When we announced our AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, last year we committed to working with our partners to bring new energy to the grid – and this agreement with Treaty Oak does just that, while also helping match our operations with clean energy while contributing to local energy resilience and economic growth across Louisiana.” Taken together, the conference and new solar announcement demonstrate how Louisiana’s rural regions are stepping into a central role in shaping an energy-forward, economically strong future.
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From The Road
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The America First Energy Project Louisiana’s Executive Director Jeff Arnold and Policy Engagement Associate Christine Fortenberry had the privilege of joining leaders, experts, and community voices from across our state at the Rural Sustainability Conference on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River in Vidalia, Louisiana.
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In the past couple weeks, the AFE team was in Concordia as well as Franklin Parishes.
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On the Outlook
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Our team will be in Concordia and Morehouse Parishes coming soon!
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ERCOT increasingly meets rising demand with solar, wind, and batteries
– EIA
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Texas continues to lead the nation in electricity demand growth, with the ERCOT grid reaching record highs in the first nine months of 2025—up 5% from 2024 and 23% from 2021. Utility-scale solar generation has surged in response, growing nearly fourfold since 2021 and producing 45 TWh so far this year. Combined with wind, renewables now meet 36% of ERCOT’s electricity demand, helping to offset midday natural gas usage.
While natural gas remains the dominant source at 43% of total generation, its share is declining, especially during peak solar hours. Between noon and 1 p.m. in summer 2025, solar averaged 24 GW—double its 2023 output—cutting midday gas generation from 50% to 37%. Batteries are also playing a growing role, supplying 4 GW during evening hours when solar tapers off. ERCOT’s evolving mix underscores how solar, wind, and storage are rapidly reshaping grid operations amid Texas’s rising power demand.
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