As Entergy plans power lines near data center, some homeowners fear property loss
Entergy is pursuing eminent domain to build new transmission lines through a cypress swamp and private property in North Louisiana to power Meta's "Hyperion" data center near Holly Ridge. Homeowners, including the Perry family, are fighting the utility in court over the land expropriation, citing environmental concerns and disruption to their property. This conflict highlights the broader impact of the data center's development on rural Louisiana.
The Perry family of North Louisiana is engaged in a legal battle with Entergy over the utility's plans to build transmission lines through their cypress swamp and farmland. This infrastructure is intended to power Meta's massive $50 billion "Hyperion" data center, located over 30 miles away in Holly Ridge.
Entergy has filed lawsuits seeking to acquire property from the Perrys and other landowners using state eminent domain laws, a process known as expropriation, after their initial offers to buy the land were refused. Harvey and Parnell Perry, a father and son, describe how the construction of a new substation nearby is already disturbing their property, which is home to wildlife including alligators, ducks, and a black bear.
This dispute represents a growing resistance from rural landowners in Louisiana against Entergy's efforts to facilitate the data center's power needs, highlighting how Meta's development is reshaping the landscape and affecting local communities. The Perrys and other disaffected landowners are actively pushing back against the utility's expropriation efforts.