SpaceX announced it will remove unpermitted turbines at xAI data centers near Memphis by July 2027 as it transitions to a permanent 1.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant. The company currently operates 69 gas turbines to power the Colossus data centers, many of which have been running for months. SpaceX acquired xAI in February and plans to spend $2.8 billion on gas turbines for its data centers over the next three years. The turbines are located south of Memphis in Mississippi, a region known for high pollution levels. The existing turbines have the potential to emit over 2,000 tons of smog-forming NOx annually. The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have sued xAI over the use of unpermitted turbines. SpaceX claims the turbines are allowed because they remain on the trailers they were shipped on, but federal regulations require permits due to their size and usage. The Department of Justice sided with SpaceX in the lawsuit, calling the unpermitted turbines a matter of national, economic, and energy security. The new power plant will include 41 gas turbines, with sizes ranging from 16.48 megawatts to 50 megawatts, according to Mississippi state permit documents. The turbines in the new plant appear different from the 69 currently in use, though specific models could not be verified. Earlier this year, Elon Musk bought APR Energy, a company specializing in temporary natural gas power, whose turbines may not be part of the new Colossus power plant. The new turbine fleet is likely intended for another, unannounced project.
Source: techcrunch
