Louisiana moves ahead with contentious gas power plants for Meta data center

Three new gas power plants are coming to Louisiana to power a metadata center

despite objections from the community. Members of the public upset after the state public service commission approved the plan

The $10 billion data center is touted as the largest planned in the U.S.

and the power plants will be run by the utility company Entergy Louisiana

People criticized the commission for what they say was a rushed process

There were also concerns about impact on electricity rates, water consumption, and air pollution

We made sure that Meta's deal would ensure that they would pay enough to cover the generation costs that they are contributing to

such that we mitigate the effect of Meta becoming a customer. We mitigated the risks or the impacts that that would have on other customers

Some members of the public weren't convinced. My main concern is that this commission is damaging their credibility by rushing through

this controversial decision in record time without due consideration of all the different

factors that have been brought up here today Construction on that data center has actually already begun in Richland Parish about halfway between Shreveport Louisiana and Jackson Mississippi Commissioners highlighted

the economic impact, saying the project will create 500 jobs in one of the most poverty-stricken

parts of the U.S. But we need help, and these people are offering help and good jobs and good

pay, and I know there's going to be some reasons against it. There's some kind of philosophical

reason, but you can be real philosophical when you don't live in Lake Providence

The only commissioner to vote no also voiced concerns about the process

So in evaluating all the costs, the benefits, positives and negatives, certainties and uncertainties associated with this deal

I am still left struggling with some fundamental questions. Three new self-built gas generators for one customer without a competitive bid process

I recognize that we are building in a business environment of trade-offs

But those fundamentals to me are at the heart of this proposal and were just too bitter for me to swallow

The first two power plants are expected to come online in 2028, with the third to begin operating in 2029

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com