Meta’s $10B Bet in Louisiana Shows the State’s Rising Economic Credibility

Eighteen months ago, few would have imagined a $10 billion Meta artificial intelligence data center taking shape in rural Richland Parish. Today, dirt is moving in Holly Ridge, and Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says the project has changed the way the nation views Louisiana’s competitiveness.

“We went from having people say, ‘What is Meta doing in Louisiana?’ to having them say, ‘Why aren’t we in Louisiana?’” May told reporters this week.

That shift in perception is more than symbolic. It marks a turning point for a state long overlooked in high-tech and infrastructure investment. Alongside Meta, Louisiana is seeing Hyundai’s planned $2 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish, Shintech’s expansion in Plaquemines Parish, and Shell’s new New Orleans headquarters on the horizon. Taken together, May calls it “the greatest economic pipeline since the post-World War II years.”

The speed of the Meta deal—less than a year from pitch to announcement—was unusual by industry standards. Multibillion-dollar projects typically take years to finalize. For Louisiana, it’s proof that when the right energy, infrastructure, and leadership align, global companies will make bold bets here.

Still, May cautioned that uncertainty in federal energy and trade policy is making it harder for companies to commit to 30- to 50-year decisions. Shifts in tariffs, tax credits, and funding programs under President Trump have created challenges, especially for renewable projects. “Risk scares business,” May said. “They cannot make a decision when we continue to change policy.”

For now, Entergy is building three natural gas plants to power Meta’s operations, with Meta footing the bill for construction and operations for 15 years. May argues this arrangement will leave Louisiana’s grid stronger and customers better off, pointing out that unlike deregulated states, Louisiana’s regulated utilities ensure rate stability.

The future of solar projects, however, looks less certain after federal tax credit rollbacks. May warned many planned projects may never come to fruition without the Inflation Reduction Act incentives.

Even with those headwinds, optimism prevails. From technology to petrochemicals, Louisiana’s business climate is stronger than it has been in decades. As May put it, “We have growth from the traditional petrochemical sector and also a new set of opportunities.”

For Louisiana business leaders, the lesson is clear: credibility attracts capital. Meta’s decision to build here has opened doors, and the question many executives are now asking is no longer “why Louisiana?”—but “why not?”