Louisiana Data Center News

Jan 26, 2026

EPA moves toward changing particulate matter standard as manufacturers urge action

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to revisit and ask the court to vacate the Biden-era annual PM2.5 standard of nine micrograms per cubic meter.

Main action: The EPA filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking the court to vacate the March 2024 PM2.5 annual standard (lowered from 12 µg/m3 to 9 µg/m3). The agency said the Biden EPA took a “regulatory shortcut” and failed to adequately consider compliance costs; EPA urged vacatur before the initial nonattainment determinations due on Feb. 7 and states’ implementation plans due in April.
Background and details: Industry groups including NAM and 15 trade associations (e.g., SMA, Aluminum Association, American Cement Association) have pressed the Trump administration to revert the standard; EPA previously estimated the 2024 rule could prevent 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays, with monetized benefits of $22 billion to $46 billion and $590 million in estimated costs by 2032. A 2025 ACA report estimated 1 million metric tons of cement needed for AI data centers by 2028 and projects U.S. data centers rising from 5,426 to 6,000 by 2027.

Jan 22, 2026

Your Guide to the Most Important Broadband Conferences of 2026

Broadband Breakfast has assembled a list of the most important broadband conversations for 2026, with a focus on the first half of the year.

Main announcement: Broadband Breakfast published a curated events calendar highlighting major industry conferences (dates and locations) such as NTCA AI Summit (Jan. 30, Online), Net Inclusion (Feb. 3-5, Chicago), INCOMPAS Policy Summit (Feb. 4-5, Washington, D.C.) — including a Broadband Breakfast livestream on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. ET — and the BEAD Implementation Summit (March 18, Washington, D.C.), noting “billions of dollars now being awarded with BEAD” and a focus on deployment, funding and technology decisions.
Background and details: The listing also references recurring and partner activities such as Broadband Breakfast Live Online’s weekly webcast (Wednesdays at 12 Noon ET) and membership benefits (post your own broadband events); other events called out cover topics including AI, data centers, energy, digital equity, fiber, ISPs, and sustainability, with dates/locations provided for each conference.

Jan 22, 2026

CBRE’s 2026 Data Center Outlook: Demand Surges as Delivery Becomes the Constraint

CBRE announced its 2026 U.S. data center outlook and confirmed the acquisition of Pearce Services (announced November 4, 2025), positioning the firm to address power and execution constraints in large-scale data center delivery.

Main announcement: CBRE’s outlook finds the U.S. data center market constrained by power delivery rather than land, capital, or connectivity; developers and occupiers now prioritize sites capable of supporting 300-MW-plus deliveries within 36 months, with preleasing expected in the mid-70% range and construction/interconnection timelines commonly extending 24–48 months for incremental generation or transmission upgrades.
Acquisition and execution detail: CBRE acquired Pearce Services (announced Nov 4, 2025) for approximately $1.2 billion in cash plus an earn-out up to $115 million; Pearce is forecast to generate > $660 million revenue and > $90 million EBITDA in 2026, and CBRE expects to produce > $350 million of Core EBITDA from its digital and power infrastructure services businesses in 2026; financial advisors included J.P. Morgan Securities and Wells Fargo, with legal advisers Sullivan & Cromwell (CBRE) and Ropes & Gray (Pearce/New Mountain Capital).

Jan 21, 2026

Irate Sen. Rand Paul Ready to Strip YouTube's Legal Immunity over Controversial Maduro Video

Sen. Rand Paul has announced he no longer defends Google/YouTube’s legal immunity under Sec. 230 after receiving death threats tied to a YouTube video he calls defamatory and wrote about in a New York Post Op-Ed.

Main action: Sen. Rand Paul changed his position on Google/YouTube liability, citing death threats and labeling the video a “ludicrous accusation” spread by “paid trolls”; he wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Post describing these events.
Context and other details: The newsletter lists multiple telecom industry items: FCC policy positions (cable market consolidation and transition to all-IP), a Texas broadband grant tied to flood monitoring, a claimed U.S.-Australia subsea optical route (single longest continuous path), rising fiber deployment costs (FBA), and vendor moves including altafiber using Nokia 25G PON and AT&T Business expanding a 30-day offer.

Jan 20, 2026

Moody’s: $3 Trillion Data Center Investment by 2030 Amid Power Challenges

Moody’s Ratings has released its 2026 outlook for global data center infrastructure projecting major investment and highlighting power and AI-related risks.

Main announcement: Moody’s projects at least $3 trillion in global data center infrastructure investment over the next five years, forecasts global data center electricity consumption to reach ~600 TWh in 2026 (up from 525 TWh in 2025), and estimates the six largest hyperscalers in the US will spend $500 billion in capex in 2026, rising to $600 billion in 2027. The outlook also flags a potential AI investment bubble and rising construction and operating costs due to labor, commodities, and equipment constraints.
Background and details: Moody’s notes key constraints and responses: power availability (DOE projects AI could account for 9% of US electricity demand by 2030), reliance on pre-leased capacity to large tech tenants increasing counterparty concentration, developers’ short-term use of behind-the-meter generation, medium-term contracts for new generation and transmission, and long-term interest in emerging technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs). The report includes comments from Moody’s senior VPs John Medina and Raj Joshi on lease risk allocation and diversification strategies.

Jan 16, 2026

Meta data center gamble: Who pays if tech giant walks away?

Earthjustice has urged the Louisiana Public Service Commission to reopen its review after Meta disclosed a financing arrangement in which Blue Owl will own 80% of the Richland Parish campus, with Meta retaining 20% and leasing the facility in four-year increments.

Main action: Earthjustice requested the PSC to reopen review following Meta’s disclosure that Blue Owl will own 80% of the campus while Meta retains 20% and will lease the facility in four-year increments.
Background/details: Critics warn the structure could allow Meta to walk away later, potentially leaving Entergy customers responsible for power plants and transmission lines built largely for the project; Entergy counters Meta remains legally liable and says the deal will deliver $650 million in customer savings over time.

Jan 16, 2026

How Trump’s anti-renewables policies collide with growth of AI

The Trump administration has paused federal offshore wind permits and curtailed renewable energy incentives, while rising electricity demand from AI data centers is increasing strain on the grid.

Federal actions halting renewables: The Department of the Interior paused several fully-permitted offshore wind projects mid-construction (five projects off the Atlantic coast were cited); the administration has required personal sign-off from Secretary Doug Burgum for new solar and wind on federal lands (only one new permission granted in the past year); the Republican-led budget bill shortened renewable tax credits originally established under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Demand-side and mitigation details:Hundreds of billions of dollars (USD) are being invested into AI data centers nationwide, driving sharp electricity demand increases; an example project in the Pacific Northwest involved a data center company paying for a new grid battery that the utility will build and own, allowing the data center to come online earlier while the utility retains ownership of the battery.

Jan 15, 2026

The State of the Science 1 Year On: Environment

The Trump administration has announced multiple rollbacks of U.S. environmental protections and actions to fast-track permits for mining, AI infrastructure, and data centers.

Major policy actions: Executive orders and budget proposals from the Trump administration include fast-tracking federal permitting for data-center infrastructure (July executive order), expediting mining permitting (goal: as little as 28 days), and an April executive order to revive coal and designate coal as a critical mineral; the administration also ordered closure of 25 USGS Water Science Centers and proposed cuts to NOAA labs and programs.
Concrete budget and project details: The FY2026 Omnibus proposal (OBBB / OMB materials) includes $2.46 billion cut to EPA Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, $1.01 billion cut to categorical grants for air and water quality, and $721 million cut to USDA Rural Development programs; the Interior announced plans to complete the Velvet-Wood mine environmental assessment in 2 weeks and construction of that uranium/vanadium mine began in November 2025.

Jan 14, 2026

Emerging Data Center Markets: Key Locations to Watch in 2026

Cushman & Wakefield reports that power and land constraints in major U.S. data center hubs are driving operators to consider secondary and tertiary markets.

Main announcement: Cushman & Wakefield finds power and land constraints in primary hubs (Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland/Eastern Oregon) are shifting site selection toward secondary/tertiary markets; highlights include OpenAI’s Stargate (~$100 billion) and Vantage Frontier (~$25+ billion) as large upcoming projects.
Details/background: Regions such as Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Central Washington, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are offering economic incentives, faster approvals, and flexible regulatory frameworks; Central Washington offers low-cost hydro power enabling 100% renewable operation but is also facing power constraints.

Jan 13, 2026

Roundup: Inflation / Entergy / Data center real estate

Entergy Louisiana has filed for a property tax exemption under Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program to support a new natural gas-fired power facility intended to serve Meta’s $10 billion data center in Richland Parish.

Main action: Entergy Louisiana filed for an Industrial Tax Exemption Program waiver to remove local property taxes on a new natural gas-fired power facility that would serve Meta’s $10 billion data center in Richland Parish, requesting an estimated $237 million in tax relief over 10 years.
Context and additional details: The filing is documented in public records and ties to Meta’s data center project; separately, Digital Realty CEO Andy Power stated “data center real estate is not oversupplied”, and JLL projects sector capacity nearly doubling by 2030 with up to $3 trillion in required investment.

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