Amazon pledges $12 billion to build AI data center campuses in northwest Louisiana

Amazon announced Monday that it will invest $12 billion to build next-generation data center campuses in northwest Louisiana, a project the company says will create 540 full-time on-site jobs and support about 1,700 additional indirect positions in the region. The multi-site development will span Caddo and Bossier parishes and is presented by state and company officials as a major expansion of Amazon’s cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure footprint.

Company statements and state releases identify the campuses as Amazon’s first dedicated data center presence in Louisiana. Pulse2 reported that construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks and operations will roll out in phases over the next several years. CNBC said Amazon is partnering with data center developer Stack Infrastructure on the build and described the investment in some reports as "up to $12 billion."

Amazon framed the project as both a local economic boost and a strategic addition to its cloud services. David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, said, "Amazon’s $12 billion investment in northwest Louisiana will build next-generation data center campuses to support AI and cloud computing, ensuring opportunities for local communities. We’re creating hundreds of high-paying jobs and making substantial investments in local infrastructure. We’re grateful for our strong partnerships with local leaders and proud to deepen our commitment to Louisiana."

The company also tied the site build to specific utility and water commitments reported by CNBC. Amazon said it worked with Southwestern Electric Power Company to ensure the company will "pay 100% of the costs" associated with new and upgraded energy infrastructure required for the campuses. The company told CNBC the facilities "will use only surplus water from the surrounding area, so there is 'no strain on local water supplies,'" and that it will "look to cool the data centers with natural air when possible in order to reduce electricity demand." CNBC reported Amazon plans to invest up to $400 million in public water infrastructure to support the sites.

State officials highlighted anticipated fiscal and workforce effects. Gov. Jeff Landry said, "Investments of this magnitude position the state at the center of operations relied on across the country and connect communities to jobs that power how Americans live and work." Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said projects like this "activate local supply chains, create new opportunities for vendors, and open pathways to high-wage careers." The North Louisiana Economic Partnership said the development is expected to generate significant new tax revenue for the region and support public services, local schools and infrastructure.

Local leaders and economic development officials will now face practical implementation questions: the exact parcel locations, permit and zoning status, whether the company will receive tax incentives, the detailed terms of the utility arrangements, and how public water investments will be structured and governed. Businessfacilities and KTBS noted Amazon has invested in Louisiana before, reporting more than $4.7 billion in the state from 2010 to 2024 through fulfillment centers and other operations.

CNBC placed the Louisiana announcement in broader corporate context, reporting Amazon’s wider capital plans this year. The company said its AI and capital expenditures are escalating at a scale that has drawn close market scrutiny. For northwest Louisiana, the immediate policy work will be local infrastructure coordination, workforce training pipelines to meet the technical and service needs of the campuses, and fiscal analysis to quantify long-term benefits to parishes and the state.