Business
New Data Center Announced; SWEPCO Role Cited in Supporting Local Economic Growth
For more information visit SWEPCO.com/ready or the NLEP project site NLEP.org/AWSSHREVEPORT, La., Feb. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwestern Electric Power
About this update from American Electric Power Company, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"For more information visit SWEPCO.com/ready or the NLEP project site NLEP.org/AWSSHREVEPORT, La., Feb. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) announced a new data center investment from Amazon that company leaders describe as the most significant economic development win Northwest Louisiana has seen in a generation. This investment brings new utility infrastructure upgrades that will deliver meaningful, long‑term benefits for SWEPCO customers while also supporting Amazon's data center operations.\"When more companies invest here, the cost of the electric system is shared more widely, contributing to long-term rate stability for all customers,\" explained SWEPCO President and Chief Operating Officer Brett Mattison.Importantly, all costs associated with these new facilities will be fully covered by Amazon and will not be passed on to existing SWEPCO residential or business customers. Under the oversight of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, any project-specific improvements - including substations, transmission lines, or specialized equipment - will be funded by the customer. The infrastructure investments required to serve this project will strengthen the electric grid, enhance reliability, and help drive long‑term growth and resilience for communities across Northwest Louisiana.Amazon's investment is expected to bring long‑term economic growth, high‑quality jobs, and substantial tax revenue for the communities SWEPCO serves. The project also brings grid upgrades that make power more reliable for everyone. This new investment builds on years of work SWEPCO has already been doing to modernize and strengthen the electric grid. Through ongoing upgrades and reliability improvements, SWEPCO has focused on better serving customers today while helping ensure the communities it powers are competitive and ready to attract new businesses and jobs.\"Reliable, resilient energy is one of the most important factors companies evaluate when choosing where to invest, and SWEPCO's infrastructure work helps make the places we serve a stronger contender for major economic development opportunities,\" said Paul Pratt, Vice President, Customer Experience and New Business Development.To support this long‑term, customer-first approach, SWEPCO has been making steady, targeted improvements across its system. Efforts includ...