A state agency in Mississippi has approved a permit for Elon Musk’s xAI to operate a large-scale methane power plant. The permit covers 41 turbines at the “Colossus 2” datacenter, which is located in the northern part of the state. This move has been condemned by the NAACP and local environmental groups as a dismissal of community concerns.
The turbines are vital for the operation of the massive chip arrays that power Musk’s AI tool, Grok. The energy-intensive nature of AI development has forced xAI to seek alternative power sources to keep its supercomputers running. This “makeshift” power plant allows the company to maintain high-speed operations without relying on the local utility grid.
The decision has been described by local residents as an “industrial surge” that has disrupted their residential community. Many feel that the MDEQ “bulldozed” through the permitting process despite significant public outcry. The NAACP has raised concerns that the voices of those most affected by the pollution were systematically ignored.
The 41 turbines are expected to release significant levels of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, including formaldehyde. This is particularly alarming for a region that already suffers from poor air quality and high rates of respiratory illness. Critics claim that the facility will become one of the largest sources of pollution in the state of Mississippi.
While xAI continues to build its “Macrohardrr” facility, the legal fight against its existing operations is heating up. The Southern Environmental Law Center and the NAACP are working to hold the company accountable for its environmental footprint. The clash between high-tech expansion and public health continues to unfold in the South.