Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the company is constructing a massive AI data center called Hyperion. This new facility is expected to deliver five gigawatts (GW) of computational power to Meta’s AI lab, marking a significant leap in the race against OpenAI and Google. Zuckerberg shared this update in a post on Threads, emphasizing Meta’s commitment to expanding its AI capabilities. Meanwhile, Meta spokesperson Ashley Gabriel confirmed Hyperion will be located in Louisiana, likely in Richland Parish, where Meta is already developing a $10 billion data center. Initially, Meta plans to bring two gigawatts of capacity online by 2030, scaling up to five gigawatts over several years.
Prometheus Super Cluster and Competitive Edge
Additionally, Meta is launching a one-gigawatt AI super cluster named Prometheus in 2026, located in New Albany, Ohio. Zuckerberg highlighted that this would make Meta one of the first tech companies to control an AI data center of this scale. Together, Prometheus and Hyperion will consume enough energy to power millions of homes. This level of demand raises concerns about local resource usage, as similar projects have already affected communities. For example, water shortages occurred near Meta’s Newton County, Georgia data center. Other companies like CoreWeave are also expanding their AI data centers, potentially doubling electricity demand in nearby cities.
Energy Challenges and Industry Growth
Despite these challenges, tech giants remain determined to build vast data centers to support AI innovation. OpenAI’s Stargate project with Oracle and SoftBank, along with xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, are also notable examples. The Trump administration has supported these developments, promoting U.S. leadership in AI infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright recently emphasized AI’s potential to transform energy into intelligence, urging accelerated production from coal, nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas sources. Experts predict that data centers could consume up to 20% of America’s energy by 2030, a substantial rise from 2.5% in 2022. Without increased energy production, communities near these data centers may face more strain on their resources.
