The Louisiana Public Service Commission has given fast-track approval for three new natural gas plants that will power Meta’s planned data center, which is expected to be the largest in the world. The decision was taken in Baton Rouge after a heated meeting where residents shouted “Shame” at commissioners, accusing them of ignoring community concerns.
Residents argued that the plants will increase pollution in a state already struggling with flooding, air quality problems, and the effects of climate change. They said the process was rushed under pressure from lobbyists and energy executives. One protester cried out: “This is why everyone who is millennials and Gen Z is moving out of the state, you guys don’t protect us.”
The commission’s approval shows the influence of corporate investment on local policy. Meta promised jobs and tax revenue, but the trade-off is more reliance on fossil fuels at a time when Louisiana is one of the states most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Younger residents see the decision as a sign that their future health and environment are being traded for short-term business interests.
Louisiana has been losing young people for years. Many move to states with stronger environmental standards and more progressive policies. The anger in the hearing room captured that trend in raw form: a younger generation demanding protection, and officials turning instead to industry.
The plants will go ahead. The data center will rise. But the trust between residents and those meant to serve them will be harder to rebuild.
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