To land Meta's massive $10 billion data center, Louisiana pulled out all the stops. Will it be worth it?

Core Insights - Meta has chosen Louisiana for its largest data center, a $10 billion investment aimed at expanding its artificial intelligence operations [3] - The data center will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere, covering 2.4 million square feet and located on a 2,250-acre site [1][3] - The project is expected to create 500 permanent jobs and 5,000 temporary jobs during construction [4] Group 1: Economic Impact - The data center is seen as a transformative project for Louisiana's economy, prompting a reevaluation of the state on both domestic and international fronts [2] - The local utility, Entergy, is preparing to build three gas-fired power plants at the site, costing over $3 billion, to meet the energy demands of the data center [6] Group 2: Site Selection and Requirements - Meta required a large contiguous plot of land with necessary infrastructure and energy access, which Louisiana was able to provide [5] - The site chosen is equivalent to about 1,700 football fields, a size that few states could accommodate [5] Group 3: Financial Incentives - Louisiana implemented a 20-year sales tax exemption for data centers built before 2029, a crucial factor in attracting Meta [7] - The exemption allows Meta to avoid potentially billions in sales tax on equipment needed for the data center [8]