{
  "id": 88926,
  "title": "SpaceX Vows to Keep Poisoning Nearby Towns With Its Fume-Belching Data Center For Another Year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/spacex-vows-to-keep-poisoning-nearby-towns-with-its-fume-belching",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-03T13:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/space/spacex-poison-nearby-towns-another-yeare"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Elon Musk's SpaceX has announced it will keep pumping toxins into nearby Memphis, Tennessee towns via its massive data centers for another year, despite widespread criticism. The company plans to switch its sprawling AI facilities to a 1.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant by July 2027, but will continue using 69 portable gas turbines until then. These turbines have already been linked to emitting more than 2,000 tons of smog-forming nitric oxides annually and hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde. SpaceX claims it cares about being a good neighbor but maintains the turbines are necessary to minimize noise and impact on the Southaven community. The \"Colossus\" data center campus, home to two data centers, has faced lawsuits and accusations of spewing harmful pollutants, causing health problems in nearby communities, especially among residents in the predominantly black neighborhood of Boxtown.",
  "summary": "\"We care deeply about being good neighbors.\" The post SpaceX Vows to Keep Poisoning Nearby Towns With Its Fume-Belching Data Center For Another Year appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [
    "SpaceX to keep using gas turbines in Memphis for another year",
    "Turbines emit 2,000+ tons of smog-forming nitric oxides annually",
    "Company claims turbines minimize noise impact on Southaven community"
  ],
  "editors_take": "SpaceX's decision to continue using polluting gas turbines for another year locks in health risks for nearby communities, particularly in predominantly black neighborhoods, despite the company's claims of being a good neighbor.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}