Louisiana landowners oppose transmission line meant to support Meta’s data center, Entergy attempts to quell concerns
Landowners in and around LaSalle Parish are opposing Entergy’s proposed high-voltage transmission line, which would help power Meta’s planned data center in northeast Louisiana. Residents raised concerns about property impacts, alleged unauthorized surveying, potential expropriation and future costs for Entergy customers at a public meeting.
Entergy is considering the West Fork Creek to Boeuf 500kV Transmission Project, also known as Project Omega, a transmission line proposed to run through parts of central and northeast Louisiana to support Meta’s new data center. LaSalle Parish rancher Dustin McAnn organized local landowners after surveyors examined properties without what residents said was adequate notice, raising concerns about property values, land acquisition and expropriation.
At an October 1 public meeting attended by Entergy representatives, state lawmakers, the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the Alliance for Affordable Energy, residents pressed the company on the project’s necessity and financing. Entergy said Meta would cover a substantial portion of the costs under a 20-year contract and argued the line would improve statewide grid reliability, while critics warned that customers could bear much of the expense if Meta later leaves. The tribal attorney for the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians also requested consultation over potential effects on tribal sovereignty and community well-being.