xAI Data Center Expansion Sparks Pollution Concerns In Mississippi Tennessee Region [WATCH]

Residents in Southaven, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, are actively opposing xAI's data center expansion, particularly its reliance on gas-powered turbines. The conflict centers around the company's Colossus 2 data center near residential areas, which initially used temporary turbines without proper permits, leading to complaints about continuous noise and declining air quality. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) initially argued that temporary turbines could be exempt from permitting requirements, a stance criticized by environmentalists. However, xAI proposed installing 41 permanent gas turbines for a 1.2-gigawatt power plant in Southaven. Critics, including LaTricea Adams of Young, Gifted and Green, argue that these operations violate federal laws like the Clean Air Act, while Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson highlighted the issue as