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SpaceXAI Says It Will Take A Year To Fully Remove Unpermitted Gas Turbines From Its Mississippi Data Center
Engadget • • business
Key Points:
- SpaceX plans to fully remove its unpermitted gas turbines powering the SpaceXAI data center near Memphis, Tennessee by July 2027, following a company update reported by TechCrunch.
- The turbines are currently involved in a NAACP lawsuit alleging that they expose nearby communities to harmful chemicals and pollution, violating the Clean Air Act.
- SpaceX is constructing a new 1.2GW power plant in Mississippi under a Clean Air Act permit to replace the 69 unpermitted turbines, with removal set to begin in August 2026 and conclude by July 2027.
- SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026 and faces legal challenges from the NAACP, which sued xAI over its unpermitted turbines and the associated health risks such as asthma and cancer.
- Despite the lawsuit, SpaceXAI asserts that current data indicates local air quality meets or exceeds EPA standards.
