404 Media: 'A Black Hole of Energy Use': Meta's Massive AI Data Center Is Stressing Out a Louisiana Community

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.404media.co/a-black-hole-of-energy-use-metas-massive-ai-data-center-is-stressing-out-a-louisiana-community/

'A Black Hole of Energy Use': Meta's Massive AI Data Center Is Stressing Out a Louisiana Community
Details about how Meta's nearly Manhattan-sized data center will impact consumers' power bills are still secret.

Roshan Abraham - Jun 23, 2025 at 10:11 AM

A massive data center for Meta’s AI will likely lead to rate hikes for Louisiana customers, but Meta wants to keep the details under wraps.

Holly Ridge is a rural community bisected by US Highway 80, gridded with farmland, with a big creek—it is literally named Big Creek—running through it. It is home to rice and grain mills and an elementary school and a few houses. Soon, it will also be home to Meta’s massive, 4 million square foot AI data center hosting thousands of perpetually humming servers that require billions of watts of energy to power. And that energy-guzzling infrastructure will be partially paid for by Louisiana residents.

The plan is part of what Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said would be “a defining year for AI.” On Threads, Zuckerberg boasted that his company was “building a 2GW+ datacenter that is so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan,” posting a map of Manhattan along with the data center overlaid. Zuckerberg went on to say that over the coming years, AI “will drive our core products and business, unlock historic innovation, and extend American technology leadership. Let's go build! 💪”

Post by @zuck

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What Zuckerberg did not mention is that "Let's go build" refers not only to the massive data center but also three new Meta-subsidized, gas power plants and a transmission line to fuel it serviced by Entergy Louisiana, the region’s energy monopoly.

…

[BoRaGard]

1. "Ha ha. Think of them as Zuck's Suckers. Ha ha." - G.O.P. Billionaire Bro, The Zuck (R)

[highplainsdem]

2. I really want to see the tech lords prosecuted for the harm they're doing. Both massive fines and

long prison sentences would be appropriate. They've done more than enough harm already.

[SARose]

3. Holly Ridge Demographics

Holly Ridge, LA is located in Tensas County in the state of Louisiana.

The total City Population for Holly Ridge is about 12,757.

The Average Home Value is $100,100, which is roughly 27% lower than the Average Home Value of $136,991 for the state of Louisiana, and roughly 54% lower than the National Average of $217,072.

The Median Income Per Household is about $36,096, which is roughly 27% lower than the Average Median Income Per Household of $49,153 for the state of Louisiana, and roughly 44% lower higher than the National Average of $65,026.

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I bolded Medium income and Average Home Value for emphasis.

So folks making $36k a year (average) are gonna pay more for their electricity? While MAGA kicks them off Medicaid, SNAP, free school breakfasts and lunches. How are these folks supposed to survive? 52% Dems.

Why am I even surprised?

[Mr. Evil]

5. That's Tensas Parish.

There are no counties in Louisiana. Just so everyone's in the know. Thanx for the info, too.

[SARose]

8. I know

That’s what was on the web page.🙄 Thanks

[Mr. Evil]

9. Cool.

I wasn't trying to be a pompous ass but, spent a large portion of my life in Louisiana and it just comes out.

[SARose]

10. Me, too!

I was tempted to change it from county to parish, though. I should have.

😂👍

[Wicked Blue]

4. This is so damn outrageous

How can Louisiana's Public Utilities Commision ALLOW this thievery by Zuckerberg? (probably bribery).

If I were an electricity customer there, I would riot.

[Mr. Evil]

6. To do something like this,

they should be made to provide their own electricity (or as much as is technologically possible). The roof or roofs of this facility/facilities should all be covered with solar panels. They can then be outlined all the way around with vertical wind turbines which aren't very big and aren't terribly expensive. Then, add as much battery backup as is deemed necessary for their precious, shitty AI. Especially to a corporation like Meta. Make them provide their own power or they can get the fuck out.

[Irish_Dem]

7. AI robots demand all human resources.

Should be an interesting battle.