SpaceXAI data centre may have led to Mississippi air pollution spike

A new SpaceXAI data centre, known as Colossus 2, has been linked to a significant rise in nitrogen oxide (NOx) air pollution in Mississippi, according to satellite data. This data centre, located in Tennessee, is the largest operational data centre in the US and is powered by temporary gas turbines. Campaigners argue that these turbines are contributing to hazardous air pollution levels in the surrounding area, leading to multiple legal cases against SpaceXAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech.

The temporary turbines lack catalytic converters, which are typically used to control emissions of NOx and other air pollutants. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers used observations from NASA's TEMPO satellite to assess the impact of Colossus 2 on local air quality. Their analysis revealed a strong increase in NOx concentrations in the area, beginning in late 2025 when SpaceXAI started deploying the temporary turbines.

During the study period from August 2025 to August 2026, NOx emissions averaged about 730 kilograms per hour, peaking at 1180 kg per hour in August 2026. This compares to the monthly emissions from a nearby gas power plant, which averaged just 21 kilograms per hour. Experts have highlighted the significance of these pollution levels, with some comparing them to those observed in central London.

SpaceXAI has promised to remove the temporary turbines by July 2027 and replace them with 41 permanent gas turbines, which will be fitted with pollution-control technology. However, the satellite study suggests that the current average emissions rate from the temporary turbines is about 16 times higher than expected once the permanent turbines are installed.