SpaceX delays removal of xAI’s illegal turbines until 2027 amid legal fight
SpaceX announced that the unpermitted gas turbines powering xAI’s data centers near Memphis will stay in place until July 2027, even as it builds a permanent natural-gas plant.
SpaceX confirmed that its subsidiary xAI will continue using 69 gas turbines at the Colossus data centers south of Memphis until July 2027, while a permanent 1.2-gigawatt natural-gas power plant is being built. The turbines, many months old, are considered unpermitted under federal law because of their size and usage, a point contested by the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center in lawsuits. The Justice Department sided with SpaceX, framing the issue as a matter of national economic and energy security.
The forthcoming plant will consist of 41 turbines ranging from about 16 to 50 megawatts, different from the temporary units. Earlier this year, Elon Musk acquired APR Energy, a firm that supplies temporary gas power, but its equipment is not expected to be part of the new permanent setup. The turbines are located in a region known for high pollution, with potential NOx emissions exceeding 2,000 tons annually.
Why it matters
The prolonged use of unpermitted turbines raises environmental and legal concerns while highlighting SpaceX’s expanding energy footprint.
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