SpaceXAI pats itself on the back for removing temporary turbines in Memphis under agreed order over the next year: “We care deeply about being good neighbors”
xAI has agreed to remove all 69 mobile turbines it installed in Southaven, Mississippi, near Memphis, which were powering its AI data center operations. The temporary turbine array had become a focal point of environmental, ethical, and legal disputes over the past year, raising concerns about the energy footprint of AI infrastructure. Under an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, xAI and its parent company SpaceX committed to decommissioning all turbines within the next 11 months. The company plans to replace this temporary power solution with energy supplied by a 1.2 GW power plant. In announcing the decision via blog post, xAI characterized the move as evidence of its commitment to environmental stewardship, stating it “cares deeply about being good neighbors.” However, observers have noted that the concession on temporary turbines does not address broader concerns about the company’s rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI operations and their environmental impact.