KEY TAKEAWAYS: Hut 8 will invest up to $10 billion in an AI data center campus in Southeast Louisiana Phase I construction is underway, with operations expected to begin in Q2 2027 Project is expected to create at least 75 direct jobs and 268 total jobs including indirect employment Entergy Lo uisiana will provide initial power capacity, supporting large-scale AI computing demand Hut 8 Corp. plans to build a massive artificial intelligence data center campus in Southeast Louisiana, committing up to $10 billion to a project that state officials say could significantly expand the region’s role in high-performance computing and energy-intensive technology. The Miami-based energy and digital infrastructure company announced it has selected West Feliciana Parish for its River Bend AI data center campus, with construction already underway and operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027. Phase I of the project alone represents an investment of up to $10 billion, including Hut 8’s spending on data center infrastructure. At peak construction, the company expects about 1,000 workers on-site. Once operational, Phase I is projected to create at least 75 direct jobs, with employment expected to grow substantially as additional phases are developed. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will also generate 193 indirect jobs, bringing the total potential employment impact to 268 new positions in the Capital Region. Gov. Jeff Landry said the project reinforces Louisiana’s ability to attract large-scale investments tied to emerging industries. “Hut 8’s investment in River Bend builds on our track record of attracting global-scale projects in the industries of the future,” Landry said, adding that the campus could help position the state as a national leader in energy and innovation. The River Bend campus will host Fluidstack, an AI cloud platform focused on training and inference. Fluidstack will be a tenant at the site, supported by a financial backstop from Google that covers lease and related pass-through obligations, according to Hut 8. The campus has the potential to scale to as much as 1,000 megawatts of utility capacity, a level that would place it among the largest AI-focused data center developments in the region. Hut 8 has selected Entergy Louisiana to provide an initial 330 megawatts of utility capacity, supporting 245 megawatts of critical IT load for Fluidstack. The agreement aligns with Entergy’s long-term planning outlooks issued in November 2025. “Energy is one of Louisiana’s greatest competitive advantages,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. He said the utility’s ability to deliver reliable, scalable power at comparatively low rates gives companies confidence to invest in the state. Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot said the project reflects coordination among state and local governments, utilities and private companies. “This project was made possible by the leadership of state and local leaders, the commitment of Entergy, and the determination of the people of Louisiana,” Genoot said. He added that the campus is designed to support advanced technological applications at scale. State and local incentive programs also played a role in the decision. Hut 8 is expected to participate in Louisiana’s sales and use tax rebate for qualifying data center equipment, created during the 2024 legislative session, as well as the state’s Quality Jobs program. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said the project aligns with the state’s broader economic strategy to attract high-wage, future-focused industries. “This project will generate high-wage jobs and create pathways for Louisianans to build long-term careers in the industries of the future,” Bourgeois said. Local leaders echoed those sentiments. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard called River Bend a “once-in-a-generation project” that will bring long-term investment and job opportunities to the parish. The Hut 8 announcement follows a series of large economic development wins for Louisiana over the past year, including Meta’s $10 billion AI data center in Northeast Louisiana and Hyundai Steel’s nearly $6 billion investment in a new manufacturing facility in Donaldsonville. Lori Melancon, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership, said the River Bend project underscores the Capital Region’s growing appeal to advanced industries and large-scale employers. ...read more read less