SpaceXAI’s Colossus data center is fueling a massive backlash
Dozens of temporary gas turbines are powering SpaceXAI’s expansion—and fights over permits and pollution
The backlash against SpaceXAI's Colossus data center in Southaven, Mississippi, is caused by hundreds of temporary gas turbines powering the expansion. This has led to disputes over permits and pollution. Taylor Logsdon, who moved up her wedding to buy a house for $79,000, now lives near what could be one of the largest power plants in the state.
The power plant is mostly hidden, with only a thin line of trees separating the road from the metal stacks of gas turbines. The sound wall installed to reduce noise does little to muffle the constant drone of the turbines, which can be heard throughout nearby homes. The data center is crucial for SpaceXAI's Grok chatbot, which is the company's most advanced AI model.
The electricity to power the turbines crosses from Mississippi to Tennessee, as the grid couldn't deliver enough electricity on SpaceXAI's timeline. The turbines were installed under Mississippi's determination that portable equipment could run for up to a year without air permits. The NAACP has sued the operation, calling it an unpermitted power plant, which later grew to dozens of machines.
The plant now has a capacity of about 1,775 megawatts, rivaling the state's largest power plants. If AI companies keep pushing for faster development, the demand for electricity could reach 9 to 17 percent of U.S. electricity by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
