AWS Project Olympic: $12B AI Data Centers Northwest Louisiana
Status: Pre-Construction / Site Preparation (March 2026) | Location: Shreveport & Bossier City (Caddo/Bossier Parishes), LA
Project Overview
Formally announced on February 23, 2026, by Jeff Landry, Project Olympic marks Amazon’s first major data center expansion into Louisiana, representing a $12 billion investment in next-generation digital infrastructure. Designed as a multi-campus “bridge” development, the project strategically links Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish, driving both physical connectivity and regional economic integration. To mitigate the high energy demands associated with AI-scale workloads, Amazon has implemented a “Ratepayer Protection” framework in partnership with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), under which the company will fully fund required grid and energy infrastructure, ensuring no cost burden is passed on to local residents. A key technical and sustainability highlight is the $400 million investment in advanced water infrastructure, built around a “verified surplus water” model that prioritizes responsible resource utilization. Under this approach, the campuses will rely on air-based cooling systems for approximately 87% of the year, switching to water-assisted cooling only during peak summer periods less than 13% annually. As of March 2026, the project has entered early execution phases, with initial job postings released for approximately 540 permanent roles. Construction activity is also ramping up, led by STACK Infrastructure, with the build-out expected to generate around 1,500 construction jobs. Collectively, Project Olympic establishes Louisiana as an emerging node in the U.S. AI infrastructure landscape while emphasizing sustainable resource management and community-aligned development.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
| Project Name | AWS Project Olympic: $12B AI Data Centers Northwest Louisiana |
| Location | Shreveport & Bossier City (Caddo/Bossier Parishes), LA |
| Status | Pre-Construction / Site Preparation (March 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1: 2027; Full Regional Cluster: 2030 |
| Total IT Load | Multi-hundred MW (Coordinated cluster load) |
| Total Capacity | Interconnected campuses across two parishes |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (AI & Cloud Infrastructure) |
| Project Type | Hyperscale AI, Cloud Computing, and Regional Edge |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
| City Name | Shreveport |
| Population | ~187,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~390,000 (Shreveport–Bossier City MSA) |
| City GDP | ~$17–20 billion (estimated, MSA) |
| Per Capita Income | ~$28,000–$30,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 3 (Mid-sized regional city) |
| Key Strengths | Strategic I-20 corridor location, established gaming & tourism sector, growing healthcare base, proximity to Texas markets, affordable real estate, emerging logistics and industrial activity |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
| Developer / Operator | Amazon Web Services |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). |
| Construction Contractor | STACK Infrastructure / Regional skilled trade partners. |
| MEP Engineering | AWS Global Infrastructure / SWEPCO Grid Teams. |
| Network Connectivity | High-speed low-latency fiber "bridge" across the Red River. |
| Power Infrastructure | Amazon-funded substations and upgrades; 200 MW solar support. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
| Power Capacity | Scalable Multi-Site Load |
| UPS Redundancy | $2N$ architecture with dedicated Amazon-funded grid hardening. |
| Cooling System | Air-cooled (87%) / Surplus Water Evaporative (13%). |
| Connectivity | Core node for Gulf Coast AI and Cloud services. |
| PUE Target | < 1.15 |
| Energy Mix | Integrated with 200 MW of regional Amazon solar investments. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
| Announcement | Amazon.com Inc. Capital Expenditures. |
| Construction Start | Announcement: Feb 2026; Construction Start: Q2 2026; Go-Live: 2027. |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | February 23, 2026 |
| Full Buildout | March 2026 (Site Prep) |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
| Total Investment | Total Investment: $12 Billion (Site, Infra, and Utilities). |
| Funding | $12 Billion |