Elon Musk's xAI Approved to Operate 41 Gas Turbines in Mississippi, Ignoring Local Opposition

Elon Musk's AI company xAI has recently been approved by Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality to operate 41 methane gas turbines at its Colossus 2 data center in Southaven, Mississippi. These turbines will power the data center's AI supercomputers, supporting the operation of its AI product Grok.

Local residents and environmental groups strongly oppose this decision, arguing that the gas turbines will worsen local air pollution. The area's air quality is already rated F (fail) by the American Lung Association, and pollutants may lead to health issues like asthma and respiratory diseases. The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against xAI over pollution concerns, claiming regulatory authorities ignored community demands.

Notably, xAI faced similar community protests when building a data center in Memphis, Tennessee earlier. The number of turbines approved this time is nearly double its current operational scale, further raising residents' concerns.