Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has been permitted to run 41 methane gas turbines at its “Colossus 2” datacenter. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality announced the decision on Tuesday, nearly doubling the facility’s power generation capability. The move has sparked a wave of “outrage” from local activists and the NAACP.
The turbines are designed to provide electricity to the company’s massive AI supercomputers, which power the Grok AI tool. These supercomputing arrays require an immense amount of energy, leading xAI to build its own localized power plant. This “makeshift” solution allows the company to operate independently of the local electrical grid.
Residents of Southaven have described the facility’s presence as an “unnecessary civic crisis” that has disrupted their community. Many have complained about the noise and the environmental impact of the turbines, which were initially operated without permits. Despite these protests, state regulators have moved forward with the authorization.
The environmental impact is the primary concern for many, as the turbines emit hazardous pollutants like formaldehyde. These chemicals are known to increase the risk of asthma, heart attacks, and other serious health conditions. The area where the datacenters are located already suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country.
As xAI continues its rapid expansion in the South, the Colossus 2 site remains at the center of a legal and social battle. With more facilities like “Macrohardrr” in development, the industrialization of the region is moving forward at an unprecedented pace. The ongoing lawsuit filed by the NAACP will likely be the final word on the matter.