Louisiana Data Center News

May 8, 2026

EDP Renewables and Meta ink PPA for 250-MW solar project

Meta has reached a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDP Renewables North America to offtake energy from the Cypress Knee Solar project in southeast Arkansas.

Main announcement: Meta signed a long-term PPA with EDP Renewables North America for the 250-MW Cypress Knee Solar project in southeast Arkansas; EDP anticipates project completion in 2028, while an EDP fact sheet estimates the project will begin commercial operations next year. This is the third EDP–Meta deal, bringing the total procured energy between the two companies to 545 MW.
Background and details: Cypress Knee Solar is “expected to contribute more than $25 million in additional funding to Chicot County over the project’s 30-year life through an Industrial Revenue Bond agreement with the County”; Meta says the agreement “supports Meta’s efforts to add new generation to the grid as it continues to match 100% of its annual electricity use with new clean and renewable energy.” Related context: Meta has other deals including NextEra’s 11 PPAs to offtake 2.1 GW, and Entergy Louisiana reached an agreement to deliver 5.2 GW of natural-gas capacity to support Meta’s $27-billion Hyperion data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana.

May 8, 2026

Roundup: Used car prices / Cyberattack / Data center regulation

Louisiana regulators are weighing new rules that would determine who pays for electricity infrastructure to support power-hungry projects such as data centers.

Main announcement: Louisiana regulators are considering new rules for data centers and other high-electricity industrial users that would decide whether the companies driving demand or existing ratepayers should bear the cost of required grid and infrastructure upgrades.
Background and details: The debate occurs amid a broader economic development push attracting energy-intensive investments (from steel mills to data centers); reporting cites affordability shifts in the auto market from Cox Automotive and a separate Canvas/Instructure cyberattack that temporarily disrupted student access and prompted an FBI notification.

May 7, 2026

50 States of Power Decarbonization Q1 2026: Lawmakers Tackle Cost Allocation and Ratepayer Protections for Large Load Additions

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center released the Q1 2026 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization report.

Report release & key findings: The Q1 2026 report documents 509 actions taken by 49 states plus Puerto Rico during the quarter and notes more than 600 introduced bills not yet passed. It reports planned capacity additions of 58,276 MW solar, 54,952 MW natural gas, 30,297 MW storage, and 22,358 MW wind, and 30,967 MW of planned coal retirements.
Top developments & context: The report highlights top policy developments including the Arizona Corporation Commission repealing the state renewable energy standard, Florida requiring large load tariffs, a North Carolina task force report on large load growth, Virginia rejoining RGGI, and El Paso Electric proposing large load tariffs in New Mexico; the most active states in Q1 2026 were Virginia, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Arizona.

May 6, 2026

AEP Q1 2026 GAAP earnings rise 9% to $874m

American Electric Power (AEP) reported Q1 2026 GAAP earnings of $874m and raised its five-year capital plan to $78bn.

Q1 financial results and guidance: AEP reported GAAP earnings of $874m (up 9.3% vs Q1 2025) and non-GAAP operating earnings of $891m (up 8.3%); quarterly revenue was $6.02bn (up 10.2%). AEP maintained full-year 2026 operating earnings guidance of EPS $6.15–$6.45.
Capital plan, load growth and project details: AEP increased its five-year capital plan to $78bn (from $72bn), with $33bn targeted for transmission projects (42% of plan). AEP reported new load agreements totalling 7GW in Q1, expects incremental load of 63GW by 2030, and says AEP Texas accounts for 41GW of commitments. New projects include 765kV transmission lines across the Southwest Power Pool and PJM regions; implementation of Texas Senate Bill 6 is expected to streamline interconnection processes. AEP also cites use of federal grants and loan guarantees to deliver nearly $600m in customer savings.

May 1, 2026

Data Centers and Communities: Why the Conversation Demands More Nuance

The Maine House advanced LD 307, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, imposing a moratorium on AI data centers with loads of 20 MW or greater until Nov. 1, 2027, and creating the Maine Data Center Coordination Council.

Main action:LD 307 advanced by the Maine House (82–62) would enact a moratorium on AI data centers ≥20 MW until Nov. 1, 2027, and establish the Maine Data Center Coordination Council to evaluate impacts on ratepayers, grid reliability, natural resources, and local communities, with a final report due to the legislature by February 2027. The article notes no large-scale AI data centers currently operating in Maine, but projects have been announced in Sanford and Jay.
Background and related details: The piece cites industry examples and commitments: Meta’s $10 billion data center on 2,250 acres in Richland Parish, LA, with Entergy adding new generation and Meta committing to match usage with at least 1,500 MW of new renewables, a $1 million per year pledge to low-income ratepayer support (matched by Entergy Louisiana), and more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements. The article also documents utility responses (e.g., AEP take-or-pay contracts), interconnection and transformer bottlenecks, permitting delays, and recommends early, transparent community engagement and clear communications from developers.

Apr 30, 2026

Roundup: Cast but not counted / Cat rides AI / Weight loss drugs

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that early voting will proceed but votes in U.S. House races will not be counted.

Nancy Landry: early voting May 2, May 16 elections proceed; U.S. House races will not be counted after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Louisiana’s congressional maps are an unconstitutional gerrymander. Landry said the office “will post notices at each of the early voting sites to alert the public of this change.”
Other details: Caterpillar raised its annual revenue forecast after Q1 results showed Power & Energy revenue $7 billion (up 22%) and Construction Industries $7.2 billion (up 38%), with AI infrastructure/data center customers cited as a driver; the FDA proposed excluding large-scale compounding of GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro), with public comments through June 29 and manufacturers’ shortages cited as resolved.

Apr 29, 2026

Internal Divisions Force House Republicans to Delay Farm Bill Vote

The U.S. House of Representatives has stalled passage of a five-year farm bill after a Republican holdout.

Main action: The House scrapped scheduled votes and sent the five-year farm bill back to the House Rules Committee for further amendment after a Republican holdout; the bill includes rural broadband funding and deployment provisions. Majority Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the chamber will instead pursue votes on an expiring foreign intelligence surveillance law and budget legislation to fund immigration enforcement.
Context and next steps: The procedural measure to bring the bill to the floor had barely passed; party leaders will work to resolve divisions within the Republican conference before re-scheduling votes. No specific funding amounts, timelines for reintroduction, or implementation details were provided in the article.

Apr 29, 2026

Roundup: Entergy boosts spending / Rotolo’s / City Hall probe

Entergy is boosting its four-year capital spending plan to $57 billion (a 33% increase) to fund infrastructure needed to serve Meta’s data center.

Main action: Entergy raised its four-year capital spending plan to $57 billion (up 33%) to build the electrical and other infrastructure required to serve Meta’s data center; Reuters attributes the move to surging U.S. power demand that hit records in 2025.
Other details:Rotolo’s Craft & Crust will open a Lakeland, Tennessee location on May 11 (its third in Tennessee and eighth for franchisees Blaire and Taylor Bobo); a grand jury met on April 29, 2026, issuing subpoenas to Metro Council members Rowdy Gaudet, Daryl Hurst, and Anthony Kenney (source: WBRZ-TV).

Apr 28, 2026

Roundup: LIV Golf tournament / Power plant equipment / Louisiana startups

LIV Golf has postponed its New Orleans tournament until at least fall.

LIV Golf postponed New Orleans tournament until at least fall, impacting a state incentive deal valued at $7.7 million; officials say most of the $3.2 million already paid will be returned, except funds used for City Park upgrades and the delay increases uncertainty about event timing and LIV Golf’s longer-term financial outlook.
Wood Mackenzie projects the U.S. power equipment market could reach $65 billion by 2030 driven by AI-driven data center growth (data centers may account for 40% of investment and 68% of load growth); supply bottlenecks and long equipment lead times could slow expansion. Additionally, Louisiana startups closed 13 venture deals in Q1 totaling $15.7 million, tying the highest deal count since 2016 with activity concentrated in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Apr 28, 2026

Supply shock is testing an LNG system already stretched thin

The New York Times reports a disruption in Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports is rippling through global energy markets while the United States has limited ability to offset the shortfall.

Supply disruption and US limits: The disruption is tied to the Strait of Hormuz conflict; U.S. terminals are operating at or near full capacity, limiting the U.S. ability to replace lost Qatari volumes and sending gas prices surging across Europe and Asia, raising costs for power generation, industry, and home heating.
Background and timeline details:Demand growth is being driven in part by AI data centers and shifts away from coal; several new export terminals in Texas and Louisiana are expected to come online but analysts say they won’t quickly fill the gap if disruptions persist, meaning shortages could keep prices elevated and accelerate investment in renewables.

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