Orleans Parish, Louisiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to New Orleans
The data center boom is not abstract in Orleans Parish: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Orleans Parish, 18% of Louisiana's total. Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans share the same boundaries. 8 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Entergy New Orleans, LLC (battery storage). Electrical contractors employ 615, up 22.3% since 2019 against down 2.9% statewide, at an average $71,492 a year. 155 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly natural gas.
Cities and towns in Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans share the same boundaries.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Orleans Parish
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Louisiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 383,361 | 362,154 | ▼ 5.5% | 3rd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 200,897 | 187,364 | ▼ 6.7% | 55th of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $53,619 | $70,573 | ▲ 31.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,338 | 4,016 | ▼ 7.4% | 34th of 43 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 503 | 615 | ▲ 22.3% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3 | 113 | ▲ 3666.7% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 375 | 411 | ▲ 9.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 4.4% | ▼ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 155 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 8 MW | 5% of today's fleet | 12th of 14 by size |
0 MW has retired here since 2019, including ENO Paterson Solar (battery storage, 0 MW, 2023). Construction employs 4,016, down 7.4% since 2019. Employers here counted 187,364 jobs in 2025, down 6.7% from 2019. Its power plants have 156 MW of capacity, 84% of it natural gas. Entergy Louisiana LLC is the largest utility serving Orleans Parish, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.05¢/kWh in 2024, below the 11.88¢ median for Louisiana utilities. 362,154 people live here, down 5.5% since 2020, 3rd of 64 Louisiana counties by population. Unemployment was 4.4% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019.
Who powers Orleans Parish
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +154 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Orleans Parish
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Louisiana LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 957,522 | 11.05¢ | 20% |
| Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 188,178 | 13.03¢ | 51% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 5
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 132 MW | 84% |
| Solar | 24 MW | 16% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Power | Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Natural gas | 132 MW | 2020 |
| New Orleans Solar Station | Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Solar | 20 MW | 2019 |
| TCI Alvar | Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Solar | 2 MW | 2019 |
| TCI France | Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Solar | 2 MW | 2019 |
| ENO Paterson Solar | Entergy New Orleans, LLC | Solar | 1 MW | 2016 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwood Forest BESS | Batteries | 8 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Entergy New Orleans, LLC |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENO Paterson Solar | Battery storage | 0 MW | 2023 |
The Orleans Parish labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 187,364 | $70,573 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 4,016 | $110,778 | 0.40 |
| Electrical contractors | 615 | $71,492 | 0.46 |
| Power and communication line construction | 113 | $117,434 | 0.37 |
| Data processing and hosting | 411 | $128,574 | 0.71 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Orleans Parish
4 data centers in Orleans Parish are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Orleans Parish and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans Parish | 362,154 | ▼ 6.7% | 156 MW | 8 MW | 4 | — |
| Jefferson Parish | 431,398 | ▼ 2.1% | 2,449 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Plaquemines Parish | 22,256 | ▲ 12.0% | 24 MW | — | — | — |
| St. Bernard Parish | 45,642 | ▲ 11.1% | 66 MW | — | — | — |
| St. Tammany Parish | 279,108 | ▲ 8.2% | — | — | 2 | — |
More of Louisiana
Orleans Parish, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Orleans Parish, Louisiana?
2 utilities have service territory in Orleans Parish in the EIA-861 2024 report: Entergy Louisiana LLC, Entergy New Orleans, LLC. The largest, Entergy Louisiana LLC, charged residential customers 11.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is New Orleans, LA in?
New Orleans is in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. About 362,154 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Orleans Parish?
5 operating plants with 156 MW of capacity. The largest is New Orleans Power (132 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Orleans Parish?
8 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Entergy New Orleans, LLC.
Are there data centers in Orleans Parish?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Orleans Parish.
Is Orleans Parish adding jobs?
Employers counted 187,364 jobs in 2025 against 200,897 in 2019 (-6.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 4,338 to 4,016.
Does Orleans Parish have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Orleans Parish. Louisiana has 3 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.