This approval facilitates enhancements to the state’s electric grid, benefiting customers and preparing for future energy demands.

Meta’s data center will need about three times the amount of electricity that New Orleans uses in a year and increase Entergy's electric needs in the state by around 30%. Both advocacy and industrial groups disputed the plan.

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.