Mississippi Regulators Approve Major Gas Turbine Expansion for xAI Data Center

State regulators in Mississippi approved a permit Tuesday for Elon Musk's xAI to operate 41 methane gas turbines at its "Colossus 2" data center in Southaven. The decision by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) allows the artificial intelligence firm to nearly double its on-site power generation, fueling the advanced computing clusters that run its Grok AI system.

The approval arrives despite significant local opposition. Residents and environmental groups argue the cluster of generators will worsen air quality in a region already struggling with pollution. The American Lung Association has given DeSoto County an "F" grade for air quality.

"We are outraged," said Abre' Conner, director of environmental and climate justice for the NAACP. "MDEQ chose to bulldoze through a decision that silenced the very residents most harmed by it." The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against xAI over pollution from the facility.

At a public hearing last month, hundreds of Southaven residents packed a room to voice concerns about noise, air pollution, and the rapid industrial development in their community. According to reports, no one spoke in favor of granting the permit.

"The scale, the speed, the intensity of this expansion are unlike anything this area has absorbed," Southaven resident Nathan Reed told NBC. "This was not a thoughtful, phased development. It was an industrial surge imposed on our residential community."

Environmental advocates note the turbines emit fine particulate matter containing chemicals like formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide, pollutants linked to respiratory illness and other health risks. The Southern Environmental Law Center states the expansion will likely make the site one of Mississippi's largest fossil-fuel power plants and a top regional polluter.

xAI has faced similar community concerns at its first major data center in Memphis, named "Colossus," and is building a third facility in Southaven. The MDEQ and xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the permit decision.

Source: The Guardian