SpaceXAI Announces One-Year Timeline for Complete Removal of Unauthorized Gas Turbines at Mississippi Data Center

SpaceX has announced plans to completely eliminate the unpermitted gas turbines powering its SpaceXAI data center near Memphis, Tennessee, by July 2027. This decision comes amidst an ongoing lawsuit from the NAACP, which claims that the company has been exposing local communities to harmful chemicals and pollution.

The firm is currently working on a new 1.2GW power facility under a Clean Air Act permit in Mississippi, which is set to replace the 69 unpermitted gas turbines it is currently using. According to an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the process of removing these temporary turbines will begin in August 2026, with a projected completion date of July 2027.

After acquiring xAI in February 2026, SpaceX aimed to expand its operations with plans to develop data centers in space, in addition to its established ventures in rocket launches and satellite internet. The lawsuit against xAI was filed shortly thereafter in April, accusing the company of violating the Clean Air Act and emphasizing the potential health risks tied to pollution, such as asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and cancer. However, SpaceXAI recently asserted that their data indicates local air quality remains compliant with EPA standards.

Despite efforts from the Justice Department to dismiss the NAACP lawsuit in June, the case is still progressing. The commitment to remove the turbines is certainly a positive step for residents near SpaceX’s operations in Tennessee and Mississippi, but it is unlikely to hinder the company’s expansion of AI infrastructure. SpaceX has already established new partnerships to provide data center capacity to both Anthropic and Google.