Elon Musk's xAI secured a state permit this week to operate 41 methane gas turbines at its Mississippi data center, nearly doubling its on-site power generation. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) approved the request for the "Colossus 2" facility in Southaven, which supports the computing clusters behind the company's Grok AI system.

The decision follows months of vocal opposition from residents and environmental groups, who argue the turbines will significantly worsen local air quality. At a recent public hearing, hundreds packed a room to voice objections; no one spoke in favor of the permit, according to reports.

"We are outraged," said Abre' Conner of the NAACP, which has filed a lawsuit over the site's pollution. "MDEQ chose to bulldoze through a decision that silenced the very residents most harmed by it."

Since the data center came online last year, neighbors have reported noise and air quality issues. The new turbines, environmental advocates say, emit fine particulates linked to asthma, heart problems, and cancer. The Southern Environmental Law Center notes the expansion could make Colossus 2 one of the state's largest fossil-fuel power plants.

"This was not a thoughtful, phased development. It was an industrial surge imposed on our residential community," Southaven resident Nathan Reed told NBC.

The site is part of a rapid regional build-out by xAI, which opened a massive Memphis data center in 2024 and is planning a third nearby. Both DeSoto and Shelby counties, where the facilities are located, already receive failing grades for air quality from the American Lung Association.

MDEQ and xAI did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: The Guardian