Meta's Richland Parish expansion is another recent example of an on-going trend that we are seeing, that of a tight coupling in the build out of both hyperscaler campuses and and new power projects.
The company confirmed plans to expand its under-construction Richland Parish data center into a $50 billion project, one of the largest AI infrastructure investments in the world. The expansion also brings more than $1 billion in local infrastructure improvements, including roads, water, and wastewater systems.
Meta’s expanded power needs are expected to require 10 new Entergy Louisiana power plants, with around 7,500 MW of capacity tied to the project. For comparison, New Orleans recently drew about 1,200 MW on a peak summer day, meaning the Meta campus could require roughly six times the power of the city at peak demand.
The map powered by Rextag Energy DataLink shows why the project matters beyond Richland Parish. The Meta Richland Parish data center site is shown alongside existing and under-development data centers, Entergy Louisiana power plants, operational 230 kV+ transmission lines, and major substations across the state. The map frames the campus as part of Louisiana’s broader power infrastructure system, not just a single construction site.
Rather than treating the expansion as only a technology or economic development announcement, the map highlights the infrastructure needed to support one of the world’s largest AI data center investments. Large-load projects at this scale depend on generation capacity, transmission access, substation proximity, and local infrastructure upgrades.
The result is a new power-planning lens for Louisiana. Meta’s Richland Parish campus shows how AI infrastructure growth can reshape the conversation around power plants, transmission corridors, substations, and regional grid capacity.
Why it matters
● Meta’s Richland Parish project has expanded into a $50 billion AI data center investment.
● The project includes more than $1 billion in local infrastructure improvements.
● Meta’s expanded power needs are tied to 10 new Entergy Louisiana power plants.
● The planned power capacity is around 7,500 MW, roughly six times New Orleans’ recent peak summer load.
● The map shows how the Richland Parish site connects to a broader statewide power infrastructure buildout.
What the map shows
A Louisiana power infrastructure view of Meta’s Richland Parish AI campus.
● Meta Richland Parish data center site
● Existing operational data centers
● Under-development data centers
● Operational Entergy Louisiana power plants
● Under-development Entergy Louisiana power plants
● Operational 230 kV+ transmission lines
● Major substations
● Louisiana statewide power infrastructure context
A deeper dive with Energy DataLink
● Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
● map data center sites against high-voltage transmission infrastructure
● compare operational and under-development data centers with power plants and generation facilities
● review major substations around large-load projects
● evaluate where AI infrastructure overlaps with grid infrastructure
● build regional infrastructure views for power, data centers, utilities, telecom, and investment analysis
