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Louisiana Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Louisiana — updated daily.
Recent Louisiana data center news
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Scaling bigger, faster, cheaper data centers with smarter designs
McKinsey has announced a comprehensive analysis and recommendations for scaling data centers to meet the surging demand driven by AI and digital transformation.
- Global capital expenditures on data center infrastructure are projected to exceed $1.7 trillion by 2030, with the US needing to triple power capacity from 25 GW in 2024 to over 80 GW by 2030.
- The report identifies key challenges including power supply constraints, cooling technology choices, skilled labor shortages, and supply chain issues, and proposes six focus areas such as scalable reference designs, integrated delivery models, rethinking redundancy, modular construction, cooling technology bets, and collaborative contracting to improve efficiency and reduce costs by up to $250 billion.
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We expect rapid electricity demand growth in Texas and the mid-Atlantic
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has announced forecasts of rapid electricity demand growth in Texas and the mid-Atlantic regions for 2025 and 2026.
- ERCOT region (Texas and neighboring states) electricity demand expected to grow by 7% in 2025 and 14% in 2026, driven by new data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities; broader West South Central Census Division sales forecasted to grow 5% in 2025 and 9% in 2026.
- PJM Interconnection region (13 states including Northern Virginia) electricity sales projected to increase by 3% in 2025 and 4% in 2026, with Northern Virginia noted for the highest concentration of data centers globally; forecasts incorporate monthly projections from ERCOT and PJM.
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Duke Energy, GE Vernova Strike Major Gas Turbine Deal to Support Explosive Demand Growth
Duke Energy has entered a significant partnership with GE Vernova for the supply of up to 11 advanced 7HA gas turbines to support its integrated resource plans (IRPs).
- Duke Energy aims to meet rising power demand driven by growth in advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population.
- Industry-wide turbine supply shortages are leading utilities like Duke, NextEra, Entergy, and NRG to secure long-term procurement agreements and investment in manufacturing expansion.
- GE Vernova is investing $160 million in its Greenville, South Carolina facility to increase production capacity by 25%, part of a $600 million U.S. manufacturing expansion.
- Duke’s updated resource plans include combined cycle natural gas plants, battery storage, and transmission upgrades to meet 1.5-5% projected annual load growth across its service areas through 2032.
This partnership reflects a strategic focus on dispatchable natural gas generation amid high demand and supply chain constraints, aiming to accelerate clean energy infrastructure deployment.
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The AI infrastructure race hits a political reality check
The article discusses the growing demand for energy due to the rise of AI-driven data centers in the United States. Entergy has initiated a $10 billion deal to provide power for a new Meta AI data center in Louisiana, despite facing backlash from environmental groups. Communities are questioning the sustainability of such projects as they demand significant land, water, and electricity, leading to concerns about environmental impact. The piece also highlights the tension between tech firms and local utilities regarding energy consumption and infrastructure adequacy.
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Societal, economic synergies of AI & durable carbon removal technology
The article discusses the integration of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology within AI data center operations in the U.S. to manage the increasing carbon footprint associated with AI growth. Specifically, it highlights Climeworks’ role in advancing this technology and the projected reduction in costs to around $250/ton by the mid-2030s. Collaborative efforts between DAC developers and data center operators are essential to address the energy needs and waste management challenges of these facilities, with potential partnerships in clean energy procurement. This initiative could result in significant economic benefits, including the creation of over 130,000 jobs in related fields across the U.S.
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Entergy's 2024 Performance Report shares progress toward a better future
Entergy Corporation, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, released its 2024 Performance Report detailing achievements in growth, environmental sustainability, and community support. The company plans to invest $37 billion by 2028 to enhance its services in the Gulf South, while advancing a cleaner energy portfolio, including commitments to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Entergy’s efforts in corporate social responsibility resulted in an economic impact of $153.52 million in 2024 through various initiatives, including energy efficiency programs for customers.
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Nation’s Power Operators Warn Congress of a Coming Reliability Shortfall
Seven major U.S. grid operators have raised alarms about an impending capacity crunch due to rapidly increasing demand driven by data centers, manufacturing, and electrification. During a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on March 25, 2025, top grid officials testified that without urgent reforms, the reliability of electric service could falter. They indicated an alarming discrepancy between rising demand and the rate at which electricity generation resources are being retired.
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🌎 CoreWeave IPO’s jolt to power demand #239
CoreWeave, a startup operating AI-tailored data centers, went public on March 29 with a valuation of $20bn after raising $1.5bn at $40/share. The IPO’s performance has raised concerns about the demand for AI infrastructure and its impact on energy needs, particularly as Microsoft reduces its data center investments. This decline in projected energy demand could affect future investments in clean power sources like nuclear and geothermal energy.
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A capacidade dos Data Centers vem aumentando, assim como o investimento e o uso da terra
The article discusses the increasing capacity and investment in Data Centers in the United States, attributed mainly to a surge in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence applications. By the end of 2024, Data Centers had reached over 92 GW of capacity, with additional monthly growth surpassing 7 GW. Major companies like Meta and Amazon are investing heavily in renewable energy to meet their electricity consumption, including significant solar projects in Texas and Mississippi. The trend highlights the urgent market expansion and infrastructure challenges for energy supply.
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Data center capacity soaring, along with investment and land use
The report from Wood Mackenzie revealed that U.S. data centers exceeded 92 GW of capacity by the end of 2024, with a monthly addition of 7 GW in the fourth quarter. Virginia and Texas are leading markets. Meta committed to 100% renewable energy usage with the construction of the 505 MWdc Hanson solar facility. Amazon secured capacity for the 100 MW Ragsdale Solar Park in Mississippi, part of the burgeoning infrastructure in data centers associated with growing electricity demand and AI workloads.