Rumor: META to acquire CLECO

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ALEXANDRIA, La. — A persistent rumor circulating through Central Louisiana suggests that Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. may be considering a purchase of CLECO Power to secure energy supply for its planned data center operations in the state, raising concerns among Rapides Parish residents about potential power shortages.

The speculation, which has gained traction in recent weeks through word-of-mouth discussions and social media chatter, centers on Meta’s growing artificial intelligence infrastructure needs and CLECO’s position as the primary electric utility serving Central Louisiana, including Alexandria and Pineville.

While neither Meta nor CLECO has confirmed any such discussions, the rumor has sparked conversations about energy capacity in a region already grappling with questions about whether existing power infrastructure can support both the energy-intensive demands of large-scale data centers and the residential and commercial needs of local communities.

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