SpaceX won’t remove all of xAI’s unpermitted turbines for another year
SpaceX has announced it will continue using unpermitted gas turbines at its xAI data centers in Mississippi until July 2027. The company is currently transitioning to a permanent power plant to support its Colossus data center operations.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the tension between rapid AI infrastructure development and environmental regulations, particularly in regions already facing pollution challenges.
SpaceX said on Thursday that it will remove the unpermitted turbines powering its xAI data centers near Memphis as it transitions to a permanent, 1.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant.
The turbines won’t be completely removed until July 2027, though. SpaceX said that it’s currently operating 69 gas turbines to power the Colossus data centers, of which many have been operating for months. The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have sued xAI over the use of unpermitted turbines. SpaceX acquired xAI in February.
In its IPO filing, SpaceX said it plans to buy $2.8 billion worth of gas turbines for its data centers over the next three years.
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