Recently, the 2.7 billion dollar Hyperion data center project that Meta is building in Holly Ridge, Louisiana, has caused strong reactions from local residents. This data center, which is expected to be put into use in 2030, will become the world's largest computing power center, with a designed capacity of 5,000 megawatts, equivalent to providing electricity for more than one million American households.

However, this ambitious project has brought many troubles to Holly Ridge during construction. According to a report by the "Louisiana Daily", the frequent passage of heavy vehicles on the town's roads during construction has led to traffic chaos and frequent accidents, with thousands of construction vehicles passing through every day. From early 2025 to mid-September, the local police recorded 64 traffic accidents, while there were only 9 in the entire year of 2024, an increase of 600% in accident rates.

In Holly Ridge Elementary School, the impact of construction traffic is particularly obvious. To ensure student safety, the school had to close the playground in the front yard. Local elementary student Penelope Hull said that she and her grandmother almost got hit by an 18-wheeler. She mentioned that the truck hit the school's fence, forcing the school to rebuild a new fence, and no longer allowing students to play outdoors because "there are too many vehicles, it's too dangerous."

Additionally, during the construction period, Meta's transport vehicles have been involved in several accidents, including an incident where an 18-wheeler driven by an unlicensed driver collided with a dump truck. Local residents are angry about the drivers' behavior, saying their driving habits are worrying.

Besides traffic safety, the Hyperion project has also affected the local water and power supply. Residents reported that the tap water turned "rusty red," and power outages have occurred frequently. For the town's approximately 2,000 residents, Meta's data center project has just begun, yet their lives have already been greatly changed.

Key Points:

🌆 The construction of the data center has caused a sharp increase in traffic accidents in Holly Ridge, with the number of accidents increasing by 600% compared to last year.  

🚸 The school closed the playground to ensure student safety, and residents expressed concerns about the safety of the construction vehicles.  

💧 The construction project has affected the local water and power supply, with the tap water turning discolored and frequent power outages.