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LA House Speaker Phillip DeVillier defends state’s push for data centers
Posted on 8/3/26 at 7:59 am
Posted on 8/3/26 at 7:59 am
quote:
BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — As Louisiana continues attracting large-scale data center developments, House Speaker Phillip DeVillier (R-Eunice) says the projects are an opportunity to strengthen the state’s economy.
DeVillier stands his ground on his beliefs despite growing concerns from some residents about transparency, electricity demand and community impacts.
DeVillier recently toured Hut 8’s River Bend project in West Feliciana Parish, one of four major data centers currently under construction in Louisiana. He said Louisiana must compete with other states to attract new industries.
“When it comes to data centers specifically, I mean, they’re coming, and they’re going to be built,” DeVillier said. “We want them to be built in other states… or do you want them here in Louisiana?”
He said data centers can help diversify Louisiana’s economy, create jobs and generate additional tax revenue for local governments. He pointed to Richland Parish, where he said increased tax revenue from a data center helped provide additional funding for local teachers.
One of the biggest points of criticism has been the use of non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, signed by some state officials during negotiations with companies considering Louisiana.
DeVillier defended the agreements, saying they are common in economic development efforts.
“It’s not like we’re trying to do something secretive,” he said. “It’s just about being able to have a conversation, and actually be able to compete to attract companies that are really looking to locate anywhere across the country.”
Residents have also questioned whether data centers could increase electricity costs, strain water supplies and place additional demands on local infrastructure.
DeVillier said state leaders are closely monitoring those concerns and noted that the companies are responsible for paying for infrastructure needed to support their projects.
quote:
Last month, Gov. Jeff Landry signed Executive Order 26-058, directing state agencies to develop a framework for future data center projects. The order focuses on issues including ratepayer protection, grid reliability, workforce development, community investment, natural resource stewardship and accountability for future incentives.
“I think it’s unfortunate that a lot of the media is focused on the negativity around these investments,” DeVillier said. “These investments are paying for the increased demand that they’re going to need when it comes to power and resources.”
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Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:06 am to ragincajun03
I get actual advertisements from Meta on my Facebook feed saying how beneficial the Meta data centers are for Louisiana.
That alone makes me suspicious.
That alone makes me suspicious.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:07 am to ragincajun03
quote:
“It’s not like we’re trying to do something secretive,” he said. “It’s just about being able to have a conversation
If they're not doing anything secretive then why the NDAs? Conversations can't happen when one side can't legally answer questions.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:11 am to ragincajun03
quote:
“It’s not like we’re trying to do something secretive,” he said. “It’s just about being able to have a conversation
Only a LA politician can say this with a straight face.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:12 am to ragincajun03
I think Meta has proven that Louisiana can land big investments that aren't related to Oil and Gas. That's valuable. That's important, and it's good for the state - especially if we can stand up enough natural gas generators to power these things.
But now that it's here.....I wouldn't go out of my way to encourage these to show up into the remaining premium industrial sites now that we have a few big ones already coming. They consume a massive amount of energy, and aren't particularly "jobs dense" like other industries are. That's not to say it isn't incredible for Richland Parish to land the largest data center of its type in the world.
To me.....Meta isn't a major game changer. But it is a hood ornament that is getting attention from the investors we REALLY need.
My logic: If SpaceX really is coming here, and we adjusted our liability laws around A&D.....I'd market those sites to a broad range of suppliers and fabricators within the A&D ecosystem. There's a lot of overlap with space and aero along with durable goods like automobiles, energy, helicopters, electrical component, semiconductors, or specialized equipment manufacturing.
If we play our cards right, we can use these data centers to land SpaceX, Space X to land the type of suppliers that overlap with other industries that normally pass Louisiana over for the midwest, Texas, or Florida.
I think this nuclear research initiative could be a game changer for whoever gets it - but even if that passes Louisiana over, I think Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed, etc are also going to be looking at the state that landed the largest SpaceX site in existence. Not to mention Hyundai, General Motors, Caterpillar, John Deere, Sikorsky, Micron, Intel, etc. that need the high grade, specialized components from suppliers that don't yet exist here - but may likely set up some operations here to partner with SpaceX.
The "big wins" are great. But what we need are the support industries that overlap with and draw in other "big wins". We have a lot of great options for manufacturers of all sizes all over the state.
But now that it's here.....I wouldn't go out of my way to encourage these to show up into the remaining premium industrial sites now that we have a few big ones already coming. They consume a massive amount of energy, and aren't particularly "jobs dense" like other industries are. That's not to say it isn't incredible for Richland Parish to land the largest data center of its type in the world.
To me.....Meta isn't a major game changer. But it is a hood ornament that is getting attention from the investors we REALLY need.
My logic: If SpaceX really is coming here, and we adjusted our liability laws around A&D.....I'd market those sites to a broad range of suppliers and fabricators within the A&D ecosystem. There's a lot of overlap with space and aero along with durable goods like automobiles, energy, helicopters, electrical component, semiconductors, or specialized equipment manufacturing.
If we play our cards right, we can use these data centers to land SpaceX, Space X to land the type of suppliers that overlap with other industries that normally pass Louisiana over for the midwest, Texas, or Florida.
I think this nuclear research initiative could be a game changer for whoever gets it - but even if that passes Louisiana over, I think Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed, etc are also going to be looking at the state that landed the largest SpaceX site in existence. Not to mention Hyundai, General Motors, Caterpillar, John Deere, Sikorsky, Micron, Intel, etc. that need the high grade, specialized components from suppliers that don't yet exist here - but may likely set up some operations here to partner with SpaceX.
The "big wins" are great. But what we need are the support industries that overlap with and draw in other "big wins". We have a lot of great options for manufacturers of all sizes all over the state.
This post was edited on 8/3/26 at 8:18 am
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:15 am to dewster
quote:
I think Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed, etc are also going to be looking at the state that landed the largest SpaceX site in existence.
That would be a huge boom for Louisiana, if it happens.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:19 am to dewster
quote:
I think Meta has proven that Louisiana can land big investments that aren't related to Oil and Gas. That's valuable. That's important, and it's good for the state - especially if we can stand up enough natural gas generators to power these things. But now that it's here.....I wouldn't go out of my way to encourage these to show up into the remaining premium industrial sites now that we have a few big ones already coming. They consume a massive amount of energy, and aren't particularly "jobs dense" like other industries are. That's not to say it isn't incredible for Richland Parish to land the largest data center of its type in the world. To me.....Meta isn't a major game changer. But it is a hood ornament that is getting attention from the investors we REALLY need. My logic: If SpaceX really is coming here, and we adjusted our liability laws around A&D.....I'd market those sites to a broad range of suppliers and fabricators within the A&D ecosystem. There's a lot of overlap with space and aero along with durable goods like automobiles, energy, helicopters, electrical component, semiconductors, or specialized equipment manufacturing.
Finally someone who gets it.
Beggars can’t be choosers and how are you going to diversify if you intentionally self sabotage and say no when something comes along.
Increase money coming into the area. Lift some people out of poverty. Influx of population for workforce and increasing skilled laborers to the area. All of this makes a higher level project more enticing to the next company.
The ship won’t pull a 180 on a dime but we have to start turning it and the data centers are part of the turn.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:24 am to ragincajun03
quote:Im having a hard time grasping why NDAs are all the sudden controversial? Every big company with proprietary info being shared in conversations ask for an NDA.
One of the biggest points of criticism has been the use of non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, signed by some state officials during negotiations with companies considering Louisiana.
Especially innovative companies on the leading edge of technology.
Guess NDAs was the leading topic on the commie newsletter sent out to the 4Chubbies this week.
Are the NDAs from O&G, Ag Tech, aviation, Refineries, Robotic, etc companies just as scary?
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:27 am to marcus3000
quote:If Nolan’s white friends didn’t do anything nefarious then why did they hire an attorney?!!!
If they're not doing anything secretive then why the NDAs?
What a retarded take
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:44 am to ragincajun03
I want to know how the average Louisiana citizen benefits.
All we hear is how it's going to raise our electricity costs and drain our fresh water supply. That's a shared burden.
How much in taxes are they going to pay? What is it earmarked for?
This feels like the time the movie industry relocated to Louisiana. As soon as all the tax breaks ended, they were gone.
All we hear is how it's going to raise our electricity costs and drain our fresh water supply. That's a shared burden.
How much in taxes are they going to pay? What is it earmarked for?
This feels like the time the movie industry relocated to Louisiana. As soon as all the tax breaks ended, they were gone.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:49 am to BitBuster
quote:
This feels like the time the movie industry relocated to Louisiana. As soon as all the tax breaks ended, they were gone.
Yeah...but the movie industry wasn't dropping the kind of dollars on more permanent infrastructure that these data centers require. The film industry seems much more transient.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:51 am to ragincajun03
quote:
“It’s not like we’re trying to do something secretive,
then why the NDA?
Sorry Phillip, but in my many years as a native of this state I have learned that nothing in which politicians are involved is ever free of frickery. And neither you nor any of your predecessors have ever done a single thing that I, as a middle-class taxpayer, have ever felt was done efficiently, honestly, and in my best interest.
And I have absolutely no faith in the states or the utilities involved to support these massive energy users without it negatively impacting me, the consumer.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:54 am to ragincajun03
Somebody please hack every Cayman and Swiss account holder and release their names.
Sure politicians at all levels have hidden trillions over the years …
Sure politicians at all levels have hidden trillions over the years …
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:54 am to ragincajun03
I have no problem with data centers coming here, the anti-data center push is largely CCP-funded garbage, but I question why the politicians are suddenly so hot and heavy on NDAs. Something tells me it's so the politicians can secretly arrange to profit before the public can find out what's going on. Maybe I'm just too cynical.
Also if a data center closes, what happens to the buildings, are they just left to rot? Note that Meta is already getting pushback in the markets because investors think they are overspending on AI. If government subsidies or incentives are involved in building data centers, it's reasonable to require the companies to give an exit path if their subsidized investment is going to be dumped, so that the state and local governments aren't left with a cleanup bill.
Also if a data center closes, what happens to the buildings, are they just left to rot? Note that Meta is already getting pushback in the markets because investors think they are overspending on AI. If government subsidies or incentives are involved in building data centers, it's reasonable to require the companies to give an exit path if their subsidized investment is going to be dumped, so that the state and local governments aren't left with a cleanup bill.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:57 am to slidingstop
NDAs are common in all real estate development of new projects that are large in scale.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 8:57 am to SuperSaint
quote:
Are the NDAs from O&G, Ag Tech, aviation, Refineries, Robotic, etc companies just as scary?
when they're done in Louisiana and involve state agencies, yes. Louisiana has a long and rich history of lying to the public about projects. I don't think anyone is trying to sabotage the states efforts to attract business. But they have invoked these NDA's in an effort to not address concerns from citizens. Anyone should be weary of that. The state nor the DCs do themselves any favors operating under an NDA.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 9:03 am to ragincajun03
quote:
Yeah...but the movie industry wasn't dropping the kind of dollars on more permanent infrastructure that these data centers require. The film industry seems much more transient.
They don't care. The real money is in the hardware inside the building, not the building itself. Hardware can be moved. I guarantee you if our lawmakers start slowly ratcheting up their taxes, they'll bail in a heartbeat. We'll be left with a giant empty building that no one can use.
Is there even a way to quantify and tax what these data centers produce?
This post was edited on 8/3/26 at 9:05 am
Posted on 8/3/26 at 9:06 am to BurningHeart
quote:
I get actual advertisements from Meta on my Facebook feed saying how beneficial the Meta data centers are for Louisiana.
If they are trying to sell it to us..... we probably don't want it.
Posted on 8/3/26 at 9:09 am to slidingstop
We should all send our utility invoices to him and the others pushing data centers.
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