Galilee Baptist Opens Shreveport Community Lighthouse
The church's new resilience hub uses solar power, backup batteries and a well water supply to serve residents during emergencies.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Data Centers
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North Louisiana Interfaith opened its third Community Lighthouse at Galilee Baptist Church in Shreveport during a Sunday ribbon-cutting ceremony. The site is designed to serve as a resilience hub during power outages, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Why it matters
Power outages pose serious risks to senior citizens and people with special needs, and the Community Lighthouse model is intended to keep critical resources available when traditional infrastructure is disrupted. The network's expansion comes as the region's energy demands rise, including from the development of Amazon data centers.
The Galilee Baptist site runs on solar panels, backup batteries and a well-based water supply that operate independently of the grid. Two $5,000 pledges, from Caddo Parish Administrator Erica Bryant and Louisiana Public Service Commission-elect member John Atkins, were announced, though the total cost of the project was not reported.
The players
North Louisiana Interfaith
A regional nonprofit organization that operates the Community Lighthouse network and works on community resilience and assistance across North Louisiana.
Erica Bryant
The Caddo Parish Administrator who pledged $5,000 toward the civic academy on data centers.
John Atkins
A Louisiana Public Service Commission-elect member who announced a personal $5,000 pledge toward the civic academy.
The details
The Galilee Baptist Church site is equipped with solar panels, backup batteries and a backup water supply from a well, allowing it to function when conventional utilities fail. North Louisiana Interfaith plans to expand the network to 20 locations across Caddo Parish and to launch a six-month civic academy in 2027 to discuss data centers and their potential impacts.
Timeline
Sunday: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Galilee Baptist Church Community Lighthouse in Shreveport.
2027: Six-month civic academy on data centers scheduled to launch.
The Tech Race
The growth of Amazon data centers in the Shreveport area has increased regional electricity demand, prompting local organizations to plan for grid strain. The Community Lighthouse network's civic academy on data centers reflects a shift in local debate toward the infrastructure costs and impacts of large-scale computing facilities.
Residents in Shreveport and surrounding Caddo Parish areas gain access to a backup site with power, water and resources during outages. Those who rely on electricity for medical equipment or mobility may find these hubs useful when grid disruptions occur.
The takeaway
Community resilience hubs with independent power and water can protect vulnerable residents during outages, and residents interested in the topic can take part in the civic conversation on data centers. Following local planning and infrastructure decisions can help households prepare for changes in regional energy demand.
What happens next
North Louisiana Interfaith plans to launch its six-month civic academy on data centers in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the Data Centers driving regional energy demand in the Shreveport area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTBS.
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