Livingston Parish Data Center Rumors: What We Know
If you've scrolled any Livingston Parish Facebook group lately, you've seen it: "Is a data center coming?" There's a lot of talk, a few real facts, and plenty of folks on both sides. I'm Brian Mackey with Pivot Realty, and I dug into the reporting so you don't have to. Here's what we actually know, what we don't, and why it matters if you own a home out there. Watch the quick version first 👇
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What's actually happening
According to WAFB's reporting, Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte met with representatives of NextEra Energy, which is exploring a battery storage facility in the parish. Permitting records describe a proposed 500-megawatt facility meant to power an unnamed commercial development. That size is a big part of why so many people think a data center is the real end game.
NextEra has filed with MISO, the grid operator for 15 states including Louisiana, and is exploring several sites around the state. A MISO filing is an early step in permitting. It shows where a company is exploring, not that anything is approved. Bottom line: no project has been finalized.
The speculation centers on a 690-acre site off Buddy Ellis Road. In an earlier WAFB story, the parish president explained that the developer originally planned homes there, but he pushed to rezone the land from residential to industrial over traffic concerns. That rezoning happened at a parish zoning commission meeting in November 2025. The Livingston Economic Development Council told WAFB the site isn't one of the properties it has marketed to the state for large industrial projects.
The secrecy question
Here's where it gets spicy. Delatte says he has not signed any non-disclosure agreements, and he's pointed to transparency as the reason. Councilman Ricky Goff, on the other hand, has said he signed a confidentiality agreement tied to the Buddy Ellis Road site. Delatte has also said a facility of that size could support a data center, and he summed up his read with a line that's been making the rounds: "where there's smoke, there's fire."
In that October 1 report, Delatte said he believes a data center will come to the parish within the next 5 to 10 years, and that five to seven companies are in talks to locate there. He also said a parish ordinance requiring a special use permit for large power generators gives the parish the final say, and he's vowed that no project will move forward if it hurts residents.
The numbers: jackpot or headache?
The jackpot side. Back in September, The Advocate reported that Delatte said a data center property being pitched in the parish could bring in about $140 million a year in property taxes. He said he hopes new revenue could raise pay for teachers and sheriff's deputies, noting deputies make about $37,000 a year. He also said any deal would need to protect residents' water and utility bills, and that a closed-loop water system would be necessary for his approval.
The headache side. Neighbors near Buddy Ellis Road have raised concerns about water use, noise and property values. One neighbor told WAFB she was "very concerned, very angry." Some council members have also said they want more information before getting behind anything.
For context, data centers are popping up across Louisiana. The Advocate noted Meta's $50 billion center in Richland Parish, Hut 8's $2.5 billion AI data center in West Feliciana Parish, and Amazon's $18 billion development in Caddo and Bossier parishes.
Why this matters for Livingston homeowners
As a realtor, here's my honest take. Big projects like this can cut both ways for homeowners. A major new taxpayer can mean more money for local services. A large industrial use near homes can also raise real questions about traffic, water, noise and how buyers feel about living nearby. Nobody knows yet how this one plays out, because there isn't a project on the table yet.
If you own a home in Livingston Parish, or you're thinking about buying or selling there, this is one to follow closely. Zoning decisions, permits and parish council votes are where the real answers will show up, and they're usually public.
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What to watch next
Whether NextEra picks a Livingston site and what it files next with MISO and the parish.
Any special use permit request under the parish's large power generator ordinance.
Whether a data center developer is actually named, and whether a water and utility protection deal comes with it.
Parish council meetings, where residents can ask questions on the record.
Want the deeper dive?
I break down stories like this every week. Comment the word "Report" on the video above, or reach out to me directly, and I'll add you to my weekly newsletter so you're always in the loop on what's changing around Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston.
Brian Mackey, Pivot Realty. Here in the trenches, gathering the news in the Baton Rouge area. Peace.
Sources: WAFB (Oct. 1 and Oct. 14, 2026) and The Advocate (Sept. 2, 2026). Cover photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash.
