Welcome to the American South Advantage Newsletter

Strategies for Utility Companies to Meet Power Demands for Project Requirements

As the American South experiences a surge in electricity demand, utility companies must adopt strategic approaches to meet increasing power demands. Key industries – including manufacturing, automotive, technology, and data centers – increasingly require reliable and scalable energy solutions.

Utility companies in the American South are implementing various strategies to meet the specific power requirements of these projects. These strategies may include:

• Grid Modernization & Smart Infrastructure
• Diverse Energy Mix & Renewable Integration
• Load Forecasting & Demand Response Programs
• Infrastructure Expansion & Public-Private Partnerships
• Energy Storage
• Regulatory & Policy Adaptation

Three of our region’s energy providers address their approaches here.

The Growing Role of Power Requirements in Economic Development Site Selection

Site selection for economic development professionals has always been a complex process, requiring consideration of factors like infrastructure, workforce availability, transportation access, and business incentives. In recent years, power requirements have emerged as a crucial element in these decisions. As energy demand grows, businesses are placing greater emphasis on the availability, reliability, and sustainability of energy.



In the January 2025 issue of Site Selection magazine, an article titled "Site Selectors Survey: Why Site Selectors Love the South" featured an open-ended question about the importance of electric power in site selection. Here are a few of the responses: "Without available power, you’re out of the running," "Capacity and infrastructure challenges limit site options," and "The demand for sufficient power will be a key differentiator between states and communities."

Energy Success Stories

Surry-Yadkin EMC Helps eTRU Go Electric

Surry-Yadkin EMC in western North Carolina helped an existing NC produce transportation company set up electric transport refrigeration units (eTRU) that use electricity instead of diesel to power refrigeration units on trucks, saving money, reducing emissions, and reducing noise.

Natural Gas + Hydrogen = Washington County, MS

Washington County, Mississippi recently landed the largest economic development by investment type in the history of the Mississippi Delta. Justin Archer Burch, president and CEO of Washington County Economic Alliance, announced in November of 2024 that Entergy Mississippi was breaking ground on a new 705 MW power station.

The Sun Shines on Virginia Data Center

In Wise County, Southwest Virginia, a new, 65,000-sq.-ft. data center is going up on abandoned mine land. What makes this project different is that the center will be powered by a solar array. The Mineral Gap Data Center, the result of a public/private partnership between DP Facilities, developer Sun Tribe, the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, Appalachian Voices, the Wise County Economic Development Office, and other regional stakeholders, is redeveloping about 20 acres of unusable, previously surface coal-mined land into the first commercial scale solar project in Virginia on former surface-mined land.

Louisiana’s Energy Exceptionalism: Fueling Tomorrow’s Energy Demands Today

Louisiana’s energy leadership, spanning more than a century since the first successful oil drill in Jennings, Louisiana rice fields in 1901, has created an unmatched legacy of expertise. As global energy needs evolve and industries seek locations that can support their future growth, Louisiana’s deep-rooted energy heritage, combined with cutting-edge innovation, positions Louisiana at the forefront of meeting tomorrow’s energy demands.

Entergy Partners with Meta to Power $10 Billion Artificial Intelligence Data Center in Northeast Louisiana

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta is building a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The new center will support 500 or more direct new jobs, more than 1,000 indirect jobs, and about 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction.

Powering Progress: Greylock Midstream Creates New Pathways for Manufacturing

America is built on steel: steel skyscrapers, steel bridges, and steel rails. Manufacturing steel takes energy – a lot of energy. So, when a leading blue-chip metals company needed a reliable natural gas supply for its new multi-billion-dollar steel plant in Northern Kentucky – and with few traditional options available – they turned to energy company Greylock Midstream to deliver a solution.

Different Power Alternatives and Their Benefits for Economic Development:

A Louisiana Perspective

Louisiana stands among the nation's top energy producers, alongside Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. For decades, the state has been instrumental in powering America, supporting energy independence, and providing essential petroleum-based products. The Oil and Gas Industry plays a significant role in Louisiana’s economic base; however, with an eye to the future, state leaders in recent years have enacted policy and regulatory changes and secured funding resources to facilitate portfolio expansion to include a number of alternative energy sources.

What is Thought Leadership

Ted Abernathy, Economic Development, Workforce & Strategy Consultant

Managing Stakeholder Expectation with Legal Insight

Tushar Chikhliker, Maynard Nexsen PC

The Right People Make the Right Community

Katie Harris, Baton Rouge Area Chamber



Champion Your Community by Staying Focused

Ben McDaniel, Development Authority of Walton County