ABC24 News Update | New data center coming to Whitehaven
Elon Musk's xAI is building a second data center called Minihardt in Whitehaven, Memphis. Concurrently, xAI has agreed with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to remove temporary gas turbines powering its South Haven, Mississippi facility by 2027 and build a permanent power plant. This comes after environmental groups pushed for the removal and residents filed a class-action lawsuit over noise and vibrations from the turbines.
Elon Musk's xAI company is developing a new data center, named Minihardt, in Whitehaven, Tennessee. This facility, located along Two-lane Road, will be the second data center in that community.
Separately, xAI has reached an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to remove 69 temporary mobile gas turbines currently powering its South Haven, Mississippi facility. The removal process is set to begin as early as August and is expected to be completed by July 2027. The company stated these turbines were always intended to be temporary and their removal marks a transition to a 1.2 gigawatt permanent power plant, which is already under construction and will utilize 41 permanent turbines authorized under a Clean Air Act permit. xAI also plans to invest in sound walls, silencers, and quieter turbine technology to mitigate impacts on nearby neighborhoods.
These developments follow sustained pressure from environmental advocacy groups. Additionally, residents in South Haven filed a class-action lawsuit against xAI last month, alleging that noise and vibrations from the turbines disturb their peace and are disruptive to their lives, affecting approximately 10,000 people. The lawsuit seeks compensation and punitive damages.