Superlative data center - with a bill for the general public

Meta Platforms, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is building its largest data center to date in Louisiana - a monster project costing around ten billion US dollars. Three new gas-fired power plants are to be built to provide the necessary energy for billions of AI queries. The problem: it's not Meta or investors who are supposed to pay, but the people of Louisiana. Yes, you read that right - the local energy supplier Entergy wants to pass on the construction costs of around five billion dollars for the power plants to all 1.1 million customers.

The data center's electricity requirements are estimated at two gigawatts - as much as an entire large city consumes. In order to be able to supply this amount of energy reliably, Entergy submitted an application to the regulatory authority in April 2025. The bill: customers will have to pay more for their electricity in future - even though they will not benefit directly from Meta's AI offensive.

Jobs versus environmental protection?

Entergy defends the project: 300 to 500 jobs are to be created by the construction of the gas-fired power plants. A bogus argument? Critics see it differently. Environmental groups and consumer advocates are up in arms against the plans. They ask themselves: why should the general public finance a project that will ultimately only benefit a company worth billions? And what will happen to the emissions from the gas-fired power plants?

This adds a new dimension to the debate - namely that of climate protection. Because while Meta presents itself as a "green" tech company and regularly emphasizes sustainability goals, an entire region is now to supply fossil fuels to power Meta's AI plans. Greenwashing meets realpolitik.

AI needs electricity - but who foots the bill?

Meta is planning big things: the data center in Richland Parish is to become the heart of its AI ambitions. A high-tech campus is being built on 375,000 square meters and should be ready by 2030. Meta says confidently: "This custom-designed campus [...] will be our largest data center to date. It will play a crucial role in accelerating our AI progress."

But despite all the innovative spirit, the question arises: does progress really have to be bought at the expense of the population? Why doesn't Meta invest directly in its own energy supply - for example through solar or wind power plants on the site? After all, the company has the means. And wouldn't that be more credible than financing through higher electricity bills for everyone?

That smells like digital indulgences!

Sure - jobs and technological development are important. But when a billion-dollar company like Meta resorts to state-regulated structures in order to reduce its own costs, that is anything but fair. Meta is not playing tech pioneer here, but energy free rider. In this case, the real innovators are those who have to worry about how to pay their next bill despite rising electricity prices.

A company with so much power and capital should take responsibility - and not pass on risks and costs to those who are neither asked nor rewarded. A classic case of: Privatize profits, socialize costs. Doesn't sound like the future - it sounds like a pretty old trick.