Louisiana Data Center Intel

Recent Louisiana data center news

• Oct 12, 2026

  Growing data center backlash puts politicians on the defensive

  Business Report is summarizing a Stateline story about the political backlash against data center development in the United States.

  • Opposition to AI data centers has shifted from local zoning disputes to a broader political issue, with a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll finding 65% opposition and only 11% support.
  • The article cites 39 ballot measures in eight states for November, mentions criticism of incentives and closed-door negotiations, and notes Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a moratorium on new data center permits; it also says U.S. data centers use about 49 gigawatts currently, with nearly 350 gigawatts planned or under construction.
• Oct 9, 2026

  How AI’s productivity boom could rewrite the rules of work

  Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said AI productivity could reshape work patterns and hiring, while also noting investor risks from the rush into AI ventures.

  • Bezos said AI could enable a three-day workweek or single-income households as workers may need fewer hours and some may exit the workforce if they no longer need a second income.
  • The article also notes Amazon plans to spend more than $200 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, largely for data centers, and that it has cut about 30,000 corporate positions since late 2025; Blue Origin is pursuing data centers in space.
• Oct 8, 2026

  Louisiana Cat plans hiring, facility expansion amid industrial boom

  Louisiana Cat has announced plans to hire at least 75 technicians and expand its facilities and rental locations over multiple years as industrial demand rises in Louisiana.

  • The Reserve-based Caterpillar dealer said growth in its power business is being driven by a surge in shipbuilding, LNG, and data center activity.
  • The company plans at least 75 technician hires and a multiyear expansion of its facilities and rental locations; the article does not provide a project budget or timeline beyond that.
• Oct 8, 2026

  Roundup: Entergy and Meta / Loyola’s ‘Billboard’ recognition / US jobless claims

  Business Report is summarizing a recent disclosure by Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May about Meta’s planned Richland Parish data center and the related grid buildout.

  • Phillip May said Meta’s planned Richland Parish data center will need 4,500 megawatts of electricity, nearly four times the peak demand of New Orleans, and usage is expected to stay near that level almost continuously.
  • May defended billions of dollars in new generation and transmission infrastructure and said Meta’s agreement requires Meta to cover the infrastructure’s costs and adjust payments if Entergy’s costs rise or fall.
  • The item also notes Loyola University New Orleans’ School of Music and Theatre Professions was named to Billboard’s 2026 Top Music Business Schools list, but that is a separate story; the article itself links to coverage by The Center Square for the Entergy/Meta details.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Beyond the Demand Forecast: Six Questions About Powering Data Centers From DPX 2026

  POWER magazine has published a conference-based analysis of DPX 2026, highlighting the main questions discussed about building power infrastructure for data centers and AI load growth.

  • The article summarizes remarks from Peter Lake, Jehmal T. Hudson, Alexander Hubbard, Matthew Gardner, Nelli Babayan, and Jason Reagan rather than announcing a single new project.
  • It includes concrete policy and market details such as Virginia’s GS-5 rate class effective Jan. 1, 2027, Berkeley Lab’s 192 TWh to 649 TWh U.S. data center electricity forecast, and GE Vernova’s planned turbine output ramp to 20 GW in Q4 2026, 24 GW by 2028, and 30 GW by 2030.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Roundup: The blight fight / Future of energy / Voter status glitch

  The article reports that FERC member David LaCerte will return to LSU on Thursday to discuss U.S. energy policy, infrastructure, and power markets.

  • David LaCerte, a 2008 LSU Law graduate and one of five FERC members, will speak at LSU about the future of U.S. energy policy, infrastructure and power markets.
  • The article says the power sector is facing rising demand from data centers, plus needs for new generation and transmission infrastructure, and challenges related to renewables and EV growth.
• Oct 7, 2026

  This Baton Rouge restaurant is helping feed Hut 8’s data center crews

  Business Report article reporting on a local restaurant serving meals to workers at a data center construction site.

  • Salt Pepper Oak is turning out hundreds of meals each day for construction workers building Hut 8’s River Bend data center in West Feliciana Parish.
  • The restaurant is one of four caterers serving the job site and is responsible primarily for feeding workers on site; the article is a news report, not a first-party announcement.
• Oct 7, 2026

  SpaceX’s flight ambitions fuel a fight over spectrum access

  SpaceX and other commercial space companies are pressing the Trump administration and the FCC to ease access to wireless spectrum for launch operations.

  • The industry wants the FCC to eliminate the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council and replace it with a self-coordination system.
  • SpaceX’s planned launch expansion could reach 10,000 rockets a year, tied to its ambitions including space-based data centers; Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX, GE Healthcare, and the Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance oppose the change over interference concerns.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Top facilities management conferences to attend in 2027

  Facilities Dive has published a 2027 conference list for facilities management, including events relevant to data centers, AI, energy resilience, sustainability and workforce development.

  • The list covers 22 events across the U.S., with dates and locations for major conferences such as ASHRAE Winter Conference (Jan. 23-27, Chicago), DCD Connect New York (May 17-18, New York City), Data Center World (May 24-27, Nashville), Realcomm IBcon (June 8-10, Tampa), and IFMA World Workplace 2027 (Oct. 13-15, Kansas City).
  • The article highlights recurring themes including AI in building systems, energy resilience and efficiency, cooling technology, cybersecurity risk, talent development, and sustainable facilities; it also notes that Data Center World, Greenbuild, ISSA Show North America and Data Center World Power are hosted by Informa.
• Oct 6, 2026

  Roundup: Surging water bills / Dyed diesel fuel / US trade gap widens

  This article is a news roundup that summarizes three previously reported developments rather than announcing a new original action by Business Report.

  • Water bills: Household water bills rose 62% on average from 2015 to 2025; the piece cites concerns about aging infrastructure, climate-related disruptions, and pollution, and references an AWWA estimate that U.S. water systems need up to $2.4 trillion over 25 years.
  • Diesel and trade: It reports that President Donald Trump expanded access to tax-exempt dyed diesel and temporarily waived the 24.4-cent-per-gallon excise tax through Dec. 31; it also notes the U.S. trade deficit rose 13.7% in August to $105.6 billion, with semiconductor imports rising as companies build data centers.