The project pairs Meta with Entergy Louisiana, which will construct seven additional natural gas power plants to generate 5,200 megawatts of power. Meta secured at least $27 billion in financing through a private capital deal with Blue Owl Capital in early 2025 and committed over $1 billion for local infrastructure improvements including roads and water systems. Local Louisiana businesses have already received more than $1.6 billion in contracts since construction began.
The expansion reflects Meta's broader $600 billion commitment to U.S. infrastructure over three years to support AI agent technologies. The facility will require energy equivalent to New York City on a winter day and relied on fast-tracked regulatory approvals under Louisiana's "Lightning Amendment"—a mechanism critics warn creates long-term ratepayer risk if Meta scales back operations. Partial operations are expected in late 2028, with 2 gigawatts targeted by 2030. Attorneys should monitor the regulatory framework governing the utility's cost recovery and any contractual exit provisions that could shift financial exposure to ratepayers.