(Reuters) -Entergy’s Louisiana unit received the state’s regulatory approval to move forward with infrastructure investments tied to Meta’s new global data center in Richland Parish, the utility firm said on Wednesday.
Facebook and Instagram parent Meta said in December last year it would invest $10 billion in the Louisiana data center, in what would be the tech company’s largest data center in the world.
U.S. data center power use is projected to triple by 2030 due to AI expansion, prompting tech companies to explore new energy sources, including nuclear power.
Meta in December sought proposals from nuclear power developers to meet its AI goals.
The approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission allows Entergy’s unit to construct three combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facilities, located in Richland Parish, two of which are expected to come online in 2028.
The third facility will be built in Entergy Louisiana’s existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish, and is expected to start operations in late 2029.
The company added it will further build several new transmission facilities for Meta’s data center across its operating areas.
As part of the approval, the commission also authorized Entergy Louisiana to procure up to 1,500 megawatts of solar resources through an expedited certification process.
(Reporting by Pranav Mathur in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
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