Meta Expands Louisiana Hyperion Data Center to $50B

Meta Platforms announced a major expansion of its Hyperion AI data center in Louisiana — Richland Parish, Louisiana, increasing planned compute capacity to 5 gigawatts and investment to over $50 billion. The project, originally estimated at $10 billion in December 2024, has grown through partnerships with Blue Owl Capital and utility Entergy. Meta has committed to funding new power plants, renewable energy, and local infrastructure improvements, while benefiting from United States — Louisiana's 20-year sales tax exemption and property tax breaks. The expansion is expected to create 7,500 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent roles, with local businesses receiving over $1.6 billion in contracts. The announcement follows a strong week for Meta's stock after releasing two major AI models under AI chief Alexandr Wang. Environmental groups like Earthjustice have raised concerns about energy use and cost shifting, but Meta asserts it will cover all operational costs. The project is part of a broader trend of Big Tech investing heavily in AI infrastructure.