What’s happening in Louisiana
Rural Louisiana is now home to one of the largest AI infrastructure projects in the world. Meta is building its Hyperion data center in Holly Ridge, a Richland Parish community about 260 miles northwest of New Orleans. The project is expected to cost $27 billion and will power Meta’s artificial intelligence ambitions.
Entergy Louisiana is constructing power infrastructure to support the facility, including two gas-fired power plants at its Franklin Farms Power Station project. “This is the biggest customer project that Entergy Louisiana has ever undertaken,” said Troy Heytens, VP of hyper scale execution. “The only thing that is a similar scale that we’ve done in the past is building brand new nuclear power plants.” The substation being built will deliver power equivalent to over one million homes.
The site spans approximately 5–6 miles long and a mile wide, including both the Entergy facility and the data center. Construction started in earnest at the beginning of 2026 — “Four months ago this was a dirt pile with some access roads,” Heytens said. The power plant is expected to be online by the end of 2028; the data center by 2030.
Long-time residents of towns like Rayville, Dunn, and Holly Ridge describe a community transformed overnight. “We’ve been a simple farming community. It’s a great place to raise your kids. It’s quiet,” said one resident. “You won’t find much quiet in certain parts of Richland Parish anymore.”
Why Louisiana residents are concerned
Water supply. A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling operations — equivalent to the daily water use of approximately 10,000 homes. Nationally, AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Electricity rates. Data centers draw continuous, massive power loads — 50 to 300+ megawatts per facility. Without dedicated rate structures, residential ratepayers absorb the cost of grid upgrades needed to serve these industrial loads. At least 18 states have introduced bills in 2026 creating special rate classes for large energy users.
Property values. Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — negatively impacts residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, continuous noise, and industrial traffic are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.
Noise. Data center cooling systems and backup generators produce persistent low-frequency noise that operates 24/7. Residents near facilities in Virginia, Georgia, and across the country report sleep disruption, elevated stress, and degraded quality of life.
Environment. Data centers generate diesel emissions from backup generators, increase impervious surface coverage causing stormwater runoff, and create heat island effects. Construction permanently removes land from agricultural or ecological use.
How to oppose a data center in Louisiana
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How can I oppose a data center in Louisiana?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.