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The most direct way to influence data center policy in St. Charles Parish is to attend council meetings and speak during public comment. The next vote on the proposed data center zoning ordinance is May 18, 2026.

St. Charles Parish Council Meetings

Next data center vote: May 18, 2026

Where: Council Chambers, St. Charles Parish Courthouse, Hahnville, LA

Regular meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays, 6:00 PM

Agendas & minutes: stcharlesparish.gov/government/parish-council

Watch live or replay: SCP-TV live stream

Meeting archives: Parish video archives

Public comment is typically allowed at the beginning of each meeting. You don't need to be an expert — you just need to be a resident with a question or a concern. If you can't attend in person, watch the replay and email your council member before the next vote.

Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) Meetings

The LPSC regulates Entergy Louisiana and approves the rate cases and infrastructure deals that affect your electric bill. Their meetings are open to the public and accept public comment.

Meeting schedule: LPSC meeting calendar

How to file a comment or complaint: LPSC complaint/comment form

Phone: 1-800-256-2397 (toll-free)

Contact Your Representatives

Your elected officials vote on the policies that shape how data centers operate in your parish and your state. They work for you. Tell them what you think.

Parish Level

St. Charles Parish Council
Find your district representative:
stcharlesparish.gov/government/parish-council

Parish President Matthew Jewell
Introduced the proposed data center ordinance.
stcharlesparish.gov — Parish President
Phone: (985) 783-5125

State Level

Find your state legislators:
legis.la.gov — Find My Legislators
Enter your address to find your state representative and senator.

LPSC Commissioner (District 2):
St. Charles Parish falls under LPSC District 2.
LPSC Commissioners

Governor Jeff Landry:
gov.louisiana.gov — Contact

Access Public Records

Every decision about data center infrastructure in Louisiana generates public records — rate filings, environmental permits, legislative testimony, contract terms. You have the right to read them.

LPSC Docket Search

Search for Entergy Louisiana rate cases, capacity filings, and Meta infrastructure dockets. The key docket for the Meta gas plants is U-37268.

lpsc.louisiana.gov — Use the docket search to find filings by number or keyword.

Louisiana Legislature — Bill Tracking

Track bills related to data centers, energy, water, and tax incentives as they move through the legislature.

legis.la.gov — Bill Search

Key bills covered on this site: Act 730 (tax incentives), SB 79 (industrial zoning), Act 138 (water authority)

Louisiana DEQ — Permits & Air Quality

Search environmental permits, air quality data, and facility records for St. Charles Parish.

EDMS document search: deq.louisiana.gov/edms-search

Air quality monitoring: airquality.deq.louisiana.gov

Public Records Requests

Louisiana's Public Records Act gives you the right to request government documents. This includes parish records, utility filings, and state agency communications.

St. Charles Parish: Contact the parish clerk's office — Phone: (985) 783-6632

State agencies: Submit a written request to any state agency under La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. — Louisiana's public records law. Agencies must respond within three business days.

Organizations Working on These Issues

These organizations are actively involved in data center policy, ratepayer advocacy, environmental justice, and energy regulation in Louisiana. They can provide information, legal support, and ways to get involved.

Alliance for Affordable Energy

Louisiana-based ratepayer advocacy organization. They track Entergy rate cases, LPSC decisions, and advocate for fair cost allocation. They've been directly involved in challenging the Meta infrastructure costs.

all4energy.org

Earthjustice

Public interest environmental law firm. Filed for an LPSC investigation into how Meta's infrastructure is being financed and who bears the risk. Continues to push for transparency and accountability.

earthjustice.org

Union of Concerned Scientists

Researches the financial risk of data center infrastructure deals — including the 40-year plant / 15-year contract gap and stranded asset risk for ratepayers.

ucsusa.org

Louisiana Bucket Brigade

Environmental justice organization focused on the River Parishes industrial corridor. Tracks pollution, health impacts, and industrial facility impacts in Cancer Alley communities.

labucketbrigade.org

Together Louisiana

Statewide civic organization working on tax policy, industrial tax exemptions, and government accountability. Tracks how incentive programs like Act 730 affect local tax revenue.

togetherla.com

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

Nonpartisan research on data center energy and water consumption. Their reporting on national water usage trends informs much of the data on this site.

eesi.org

Stay Informed

This isn't a one-meeting issue. Data center policy in Louisiana is evolving — new bills, new rate cases, new infrastructure decisions. Here's how to keep up.

News Sources Covering This Story

The Lens — Investigative reporting on Louisiana energy policy, ratepayer costs, and the Lightning Amendment.
thelensnola.org

NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune — Ongoing coverage of data center water usage, Meta development, and state policy.
nola.com

St. Charles Herald Guide — Local coverage of parish council meetings, ordinances, and community response.
heraldguide.com

Utility Dive — National energy industry reporting, including Texas SB 6 and demand response policy.
utilitydive.com

Document Your Experience

If you live near industrial facilities in St. Charles Parish, your firsthand observations matter — in council meetings, in regulatory proceedings, and in building a public record. Keep track of noise levels, air quality concerns, and any changes you notice. Local data from residents carries weight in regulatory proceedings that national statistics don't.

May 18, 2026

The St. Charles Parish Council votes on the proposed data center zoning ordinance. This is the vote that determines what rules — if any — apply to future data center development in your parish. Show up, watch the stream, or contact your council member before then.

Find your council member · Watch live on SCP-TV