Elon Musks xAI wants to build a power plant in Mississippi. Regulators plan a key meeting on Election Day
Summary
xAI plans to build a large natural-gas power plant and a major data center (dubbed Macrohardrr) in Southaven, Mississippi, and the state environmental regulator scheduled a permit-board meeting on Election Day to decide on key permits. The NAACP and other civil-rights and environmental groups asked the hearing be delayed and moved closer to the community, arguing the timing and location impede voting and attendance; the MDEQ denied the request, citing its regular meeting schedule. Residents complain of noise, air quality and health impacts from temporary gas turbines; University of Tennessee research found xAI's earlier turbine use increased air pollution in Greater Memphis. The NAACP filed a notice of intent to sue under the Clean Air Act, and local hearings drew strong community turnout demanding more transparency and mitigation measures. The dispute highlights tensions between rapid AI infrastructure expansion, xAI's growing compute and power needs, and local environmental justice concerns.
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