Louisiana Grid Siting Strategy Report
Actionable Parish Shortlist for Hyperscale, Industrial, and AI-Scale Loads (2026–2030)
Author's lens: downstream operator + interconnection reality. This is not a marketing map; it's a build-order strategy.
⸻
Executive Summary (What to Do Now)
- **Primary targets: Richland Parish, Morehouse Parish, West Carroll Parish**
- **Secondary plays: Ouachita Parish, Caldwell Parish**
- **Avoid for first-wave AI loads: East Baton Rouge Parish, Jefferson Parish**
⸻
How to Read the Grid (Decision Framework)
- **Transmission beats distribution** for >50–75 MW loads. Aim ≥230 kV POIs; 500 kV if roadmap aligns.
- **Queue density matters more than land price.** A cheap parcel with a saturated POI is a mirage.
- **MISO South timing is the gating factor.** Study windows and cluster outcomes define schedule risk more than construction.
Governance reality: Transmission-level interconnections flow through Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO South). Local service and make-ready coordination run through Entergy Louisiana.
⸻
Parish-by-Parish: The Shortlist
Tier 1 — Build First
- **Grid:** Near major north–south corridors; realistic access to 230 kV with future 500 kV relief.
- **Queue signal:** Active but not maxed; studies still produce buildable outcomes.
- **Land & ops:** Flat, industrial-friendly, low entitlement drag.
- **Best fit:** 100–400 MW AI campuses staged in 2–3 tranches.
- **Grid:** Proven generation interconnect history; transmission muscle nearby.
- **Queue signal:** Busy—but informative. Developers here learn early what upgrades cost.
- **Land & ops:** Ample acreage; straightforward logistics.
- **Best fit:** Energy-intensive compute or hybrid generation-plus-load campuses.
- **Grid:** Fewer competing loads; clean POI selection if done early.
- **Queue signal:** Light—window won't stay open.
- **Land & ops:** Excellent for first movers willing to underwrite early studies.
- **Best fit:** 75–200 MW with fast NTP after SIS.
⸻
Tier 2 — Strategic, With Discipline
- **Grid:** Substation density helps, but urban load competes.
- **Risk:** Distribution limits push you to transmission anyway—don't half-step.
- **Best fit:** Phased campuses that can tolerate upgrade sequencing.
- **Grid:** Adjacent to corridors feeding Tier-1 parishes.
- **Risk:** Study outcomes hinge on upstream reinforcement timing.
- **Best fit:** Back-up option when Tier-1 parcels slip.
⸻
Tier 3 — Deprioritize (Unless Special Circumstances)
- **Grid:** Dense load, constrained distribution, expensive upgrades.
- **Politics:** Permitting and community process elongate schedules.
- **Verdict:** Fine for <20 MW edge or enterprise sites; poor for hyperscale.
⸻
Interconnection Playbook (Actionable Steps)
1. Pre-screen POIs on ≥230 kV lines; rank by upgrade delta not distance. 2. Enter MISO GI early with conservative MW blocks (two smaller requests beat one giant miss). 3. Parallel land control (options with SIS exit clauses). 4. Design for modular ramp (50–100 MW blocks) to monetize early while upgrades complete. 5. Lock utility coordination with Entergy Louisiana before final SIS submission to avoid late safety redesigns.
⸻
Risk Register (What Can Break the Schedule)
- **Cluster shock:** A single late entrant can flip your cost allocation.
- **Transformer lead times:** Secure early or design around phased energization.
- **Transmission build slips:** Track MISO portfolio approvals quarterly.
⸻
Bottom Line
If you need speed + certainty, start in Richland, Morehouse, or West Carroll. Treat Ouachita and Caldwell as chess pieces, not anchors. Avoid urban parishes for first-wave AI unless politics or incentives overwhelmingly compensate for grid friction.