Louisiana Approves Zoning Change For Hut 8's $2.5 Billion AI Data Center

According to Odaily, officials in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, have approved a zoning change for a $2.5 billion artificial intelligence data center developed by Bitcoin mining company Hut 8. Local media reported that the parish's planning and zoning commission unanimously approved Hut 8's project on Monday. The data center will be built on a 611-acre site and is expected to create permanent jobs and significant construction-related opportunities in the area. Riley Trettel, Senior Vice President of Data Center Development at Hut 8, stated that the company is working on an "aggressive timeline" to complete the project. Trettel added that the facility will be leased to an undisclosed tenant planning to purchase $10 billion worth of data center hardware. The first phase of construction will include two buildings, each 450,000 square feet, to house data servers. The first building is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, with the second phase scheduled for completion in 2026. Documents submitted to local officials indicate that the initial phase will require 300 megawatts (MW) of power, with future expansions potentially increasing energy demand to over 1 gigawatt (GW).