Meta is significantly expanding its Hyperion data center initiative in rural Louisiana, with support from the state government, leading to an increase in both size and budget.
In a blog post on Monday, Meta revealed that the Richland Parish site will evolve into the company’s largest data center, boasting a capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) and a projected investment exceeding $50 billion. This figure marks a substantial rise from the previously announced $27 billion investment in October, when Meta partnered with Blue Owl Capital for the construction and management of the facility, which was initially planned to have a capacity of just 2 GW.
As Meta embarks on its ambitious AI expansion, which involves hundreds of billions in investment, the tech giant, along with competitors like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, is capitalizing on various tax incentives and energy agreements offered by states eager to attract a share of the booming AI industry.
In late 2024, Louisiana's Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, enacted a 20-year sales tax exemption for data centers established before 2029, which was part of an effort to entice Meta to the region, as previously reported by CNBC. Landry is scheduled to hold a press conference in Baton Rouge on Monday.
“I’m a business guy,” Landry stated in an interview with CNBC last year, emphasizing that the overall financial package is beneficial not just for the state, but also for local governments. “When you look at the overall comprehensive package here, it’s in the black. The bottom line is what matters to me.”
Meta’s development of this project is crucial as the company seeks to establish sufficient infrastructure to support the increasing demand for AI technologies. This announcement comes on the heels of Meta experiencing its strongest week in the stock market since early 2024, coinciding with the launch of two significant AI models led by Alexandr Wang, head of Meta Superintelligence Labs. Investors are increasingly anticipating that the company will start to generate returns from its substantial investments in artificial intelligence.



