Shreveport Mayor Makes Urgent Plea Ahead of Data Center Vote
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux took an unusual step at this week’s council meeting, speaking directly to residents and council members about the proposed data center slated for the Resilient Technology Center.
While the item is not scheduled for a vote until December 18, the mayor said the volume of calls and emails coming into his office suggested that people needed clearer information before the discussion moves forward.
Mayor Calls Project a Rare Economic Opportunity for Shreveport
Mayor Arceneaux told the Shreveport City Council that he strongly supports the project and wanted to explain why. According to the mayor, the chosen site is exactly the type of location for which the city created industrial parks. It fits within current zoning rules and only requires a special exception use.
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He emphasized that the city has missed out on major industrial projects in the past and described this one as a rare chance to land what he called a home run. He noted that, if approved, it would become the largest capital investment in Northwest Louisiana history, surpassing even General Motors.
Infrastructure Costs Would Not Fall on Shreveport Taxpayers
One concern circulating among residents involves the effect on water and sewer rates. Arceneaux said those costs would not increase because of this proposal. He explained that the project covers the construction costs of its own water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure.
That means the city can profit from future usage without funding any new facilities. He added that Shreveport has an abundant water supply, which is one reason the city is attractive to large data center operators.
Warning About Long Term Negative Impact on Shreveport Future Development
While the official debate will begin on December 18, the mayor cautioned that rejecting the project could harm Shreveport’s ability to attract major employers in the future. He said companies watch how cities handle high value projects, and a misstep now could send the wrong message.