Deep in rural Louisiana, a huge transformation is underway. Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is building a giant AI data center called Hyperion. The project will cover nearly 4,000 acres—about four times the size of Manhattan’s Central Park. It’s set to become one of the biggest private infrastructure projects in U.S. history.

Hyperion’s cost has soared from an initial $10 billion to more than $200 billion. The scale is staggering. The facility will include up to nine buildings housing AI computing power. Meta plans to deliver 5 gigawatts just for computing, plus another 2.5 gigawatts for cooling and infrastructure.

To power the site, Entergy Louisiana is building 10 gas-fired power plants. This is triple the original plan. These plants will generate over 7 gigawatts of electricity. Meta is also funding new renewable energy projects, transmission lines stretching 240 miles, and battery storage systems. There’s even talk of future nuclear power to support the center’s needs.

The data center is expected to go live by 2030. It will create more than 500 permanent jobs and employ over 5,000 construction workers at its peak. Meta has also pledged $300 million to improve local infrastructure like roads and water systems. This will change the quiet farming communities around Richland Parish.

From Quiet Farms to a Tech Powerhouse

Before Hyperion, Richland Parish was known for its slow pace and farming life. Small towns like Rayville, Dunn, and Holly Ridge were quiet places where life moved steadily. Locals remember it as a peaceful spot to raise families.

Now, construction zones and power plants are popping up all over. Entergy’s Franklin Farms Power Station in Holly Ridge is the biggest project the utility has ever handled. They compare its scale only to building new nuclear plants. This shift is visible across the parish, with roads busy and heavy equipment everywhere.

Meta’s 4 million square foot data center campus will stretch about 5-6 miles long and one mile wide. The company acquired more farmland to expand the site, now nearly 4,000 acres in total. This growth shows Meta’s serious commitment to its AI ambitions.

Big Money, Big Deals, Big Impact

Meta has secured a $27 billion financing deal to build Hyperion. The company uses a special financial structure that keeps most of the debt off its balance sheet. A private investment firm owns 80% of the project, while Meta holds 20%. This helps Meta manage the cost without overloading its own finances.

Local and state governments have supported the deal with big tax breaks. Meta received a $3.3 billion exemption on sales taxes for AI chips and equipment. This deal was made quietly under the code name “Project Sucre” before the company’s involvement was public. Officials fast-tracked approvals for power plants and infrastructure to support the project.

Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has personally pushed for the project. He met with political leaders, including former President Trump and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The state sees Hyperion as a game changer. It’s the largest private investment in Louisiana’s history and promises new economic activity.

But this scale of spending also means Meta is cutting jobs elsewhere. The company plans to lay off 8,000 workers and cancel 6,000 open roles. Zuckerberg says the company is shifting money from payroll to AI computing power. Wall Street reacted by sending Meta’s stock down after the increased capital spending was announced.

Hyperion represents a bet on AI’s future. Meta expects the returns from this massive infrastructure to pay off. The project pushes the limits of what a private company has built before. For Richland Parish, it means a complete transformation from quiet farmland to a global tech hub.