Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 9 related projects in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 6 related plants in PECWeb
Released August 27, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
en
Written by Jesse Broehl for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A package of major power generation projects including 2.25 gigawatts (GW) of gas plants and at least 1.5 GW of solar power was approved by Louisiana state regulators on August 20. The projects hinge on the power needed to run a massive data center campus planned by Meta Platforms Incorporated (Menlo Park, California) in Richland Parish, Louisiana, named Hyperion.
As it would be Meta's largest data center campus, it would require enormous amounts of energy, the sourcing of which has been in development with the regional regulated utility Entergy Louisiana (New Orleans).
On August 20, the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) approved a landmark agreement with Entergy Louisiana to move forward with major power and infrastructure investments tied to the Meta facility.
Industrial Info is tracking the power infrastructure projects and plants in advanced development associated with this agreement, under the Hyperion Data Center & Transmission Line umbrella project. Additional projects and phases will be added as the overall plan advances following its approval.
Hyperion Data Center Campus
At the heart of the plans is the nearly $10 billion, 2-GW AI corporate data center campus, including nine buildings. Details including the project scope, schedule, and key contractors are available at this link.
2.25 GW of Natural Gas Power Plants
The agreement allows Entergy Louisiana to construct three modern and efficient combined cycle combustion turbine generation facilities. Two of the gas units, the Richland Grassroot 1,500-MW Franklin Farms Combined Cycle Power Station, will be located in Richland Parish and are expected to come online in mid-2029.
The third facility, the St. Charles 754-MW Selpa Combined Cycle Power Station, will be built at Entergy Louisiana's existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish, with an expected operational date by the end of 2029. Louisiana is a prime location for natural gas plants with its confluence of gas pipelines and fast growing coastal liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure.
Procurement of at Least 1.5 GW of Solar
Meta pledged to match its electricity usage with 100% renewable energy and said the company would work with Entergy Louisiana to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy. Towards this, the commission authorized Entergy Louisiana to procure up to 1,500 MW of solar resources through an expedited certification process. Entergy also agreed to use commercially reasonable best efforts to procure and file a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for an additional 500 MW of solar power.
Electricity Transmission Upgrades
To serve the data center, Entergy will build several new transmission lines, including a recently announced 100-mile 500-kilovolt (kV) project, tracked by Industrial Info as the Dubach 500-kV Mount Olive -- Sarepta Overhead Transmission line, and the Sterlington 500-kV Overhead Transmission Line. In addition, the utility will construct two substations, six customer-owned substations and eight new 230-kV transmission lines, anchored by the Rayville 230-kV Smalling Substation Transmission line. These lines are in site characterization and final permitting is expected by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The utility is farthest along on the first substation in pre-construction site characterization. The 500-kV/230-kV Rayville Smalling Substation is being constructed in Richland Parish and will be entirely funded by Meta. When completed, the substation will span 55 acres and connect to high-voltage power lines that bring energy from across the region and deliver it to the Meta site.
The Sterlington 500-kV/230-kV Substation is also in site characterization planning.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
As it would be Meta's largest data center campus, it would require enormous amounts of energy, the sourcing of which has been in development with the regional regulated utility Entergy Louisiana (New Orleans).
On August 20, the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) approved a landmark agreement with Entergy Louisiana to move forward with major power and infrastructure investments tied to the Meta facility.
Industrial Info is tracking the power infrastructure projects and plants in advanced development associated with this agreement, under the Hyperion Data Center & Transmission Line umbrella project. Additional projects and phases will be added as the overall plan advances following its approval.
Hyperion Data Center Campus
At the heart of the plans is the nearly $10 billion, 2-GW AI corporate data center campus, including nine buildings. Details including the project scope, schedule, and key contractors are available at this link.
2.25 GW of Natural Gas Power Plants
The agreement allows Entergy Louisiana to construct three modern and efficient combined cycle combustion turbine generation facilities. Two of the gas units, the Richland Grassroot 1,500-MW Franklin Farms Combined Cycle Power Station, will be located in Richland Parish and are expected to come online in mid-2029.
The third facility, the St. Charles 754-MW Selpa Combined Cycle Power Station, will be built at Entergy Louisiana's existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish, with an expected operational date by the end of 2029. Louisiana is a prime location for natural gas plants with its confluence of gas pipelines and fast growing coastal liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure.
Procurement of at Least 1.5 GW of Solar
Meta pledged to match its electricity usage with 100% renewable energy and said the company would work with Entergy Louisiana to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy. Towards this, the commission authorized Entergy Louisiana to procure up to 1,500 MW of solar resources through an expedited certification process. Entergy also agreed to use commercially reasonable best efforts to procure and file a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for an additional 500 MW of solar power.
Electricity Transmission Upgrades
To serve the data center, Entergy will build several new transmission lines, including a recently announced 100-mile 500-kilovolt (kV) project, tracked by Industrial Info as the Dubach 500-kV Mount Olive -- Sarepta Overhead Transmission line, and the Sterlington 500-kV Overhead Transmission Line. In addition, the utility will construct two substations, six customer-owned substations and eight new 230-kV transmission lines, anchored by the Rayville 230-kV Smalling Substation Transmission line. These lines are in site characterization and final permitting is expected by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The utility is farthest along on the first substation in pre-construction site characterization. The 500-kV/230-kV Rayville Smalling Substation is being constructed in Richland Parish and will be entirely funded by Meta. When completed, the substation will span 55 acres and connect to high-voltage power lines that bring energy from across the region and deliver it to the Meta site.
The Sterlington 500-kV/230-kV Substation is also in site characterization planning.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
