Facing Protests, xAI to Phase Out 69 Gas Turbines at Memphis Data Center
Elon Musk’s company, now called SpaceXAI, has agreed to gradually remove 69 temporary gas turbines powering its Colossus data center in Memphis after facing lawsuits and protests. The removal is slated to begin as early as August 2026 and could be completed by July 2027, while a 1.2 GW permanent power plant with 41 turbines is under construction. Environmental groups argue the company has been expanding turbine use and are calling for an immediate shutdown, prompting the firm to highlight new emission controls and noise‑reduction measures.
- ▪SpaceXAI announced a fixed timeline to remove all 69 mobile gas turbines from its Southaven, Mississippi facility following legal and community pressure.
- ▪The removal process may start in August 2026 and finish by July 2027, coinciding with the rollout of a permanent 1.2 GW power plant.
- ▪The permanent plant will feature 41 turbines equipped with advanced emission‑control technologies intended to convert gases into nitrogen and water.
- ▪The Southern Environmental Law Center disputes the company’s claims of rapid removal and urges an immediate shutdown of the turbines.
- ▪SpaceXAI says it is investing in sound walls, silencers, and quieter turbine designs to mitigate noise and environmental impact.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.pcmag.com/news/facing-protests-xai-to-phase-out-69-gas-turbines-at-memphis-data-center |
| Publication time | Fri, 31 Jul 26 14:40:57 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-07-31T14:53:02.825Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Facing lawsuits and protests, Elon Musk’s xAI has agreed to gradually remove 69 gas turbines from its "Colossus" data center in Memphis, Tennessee.The company, now called SpaceXAI, announced the plan on Thursday after being sued over noise and air pollution from the temporary gas turbines that power the data center.The company is also building at a second and third site along the Mississippi-Tennessee border, leading to an increase in the gas turbine use from over a dozen to 69.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at PCMag.
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