Holly Ridge residents weigh leaving homes as Meta Data Center construction disrupts community
Construction of Meta’s data center in Holly Ridge is disrupting nearby residents through heavy traffic, dust, noise, utility outages and rising utility bills. Some longtime residents, including Randy Dove, say the impacts are prompting them to consider leaving their homes, while Meta says it is enforcing traffic and dust-control measures.
Construction of Meta’s data center in Holly Ridge, Louisiana, has disrupted nearby residents with heavy truck traffic, dust, noise, blocked driveways and interruptions to water service after crews allegedly struck underground utility lines. Residents also report higher utility bills and say the construction has significantly changed the rural character of the community.
Longtime residents Randy Dove and Lisa Hopkins said the ongoing impacts have led them to consider moving away from homes where they have lived for decades. Meta said project drivers must follow traffic rules, that violators may be removed from the site, and that crews are managing dust and communicating with local leaders. Neighbors said those measures have not adequately addressed their daily concerns.