On Thursday, SpaceX announced it will eliminate the unauthorized turbines supplying power to its xAI data centers near Memphis as it shifts to a permanent natural gas power facility with a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts.
However, the complete removal of the turbines won’t occur until July 2027. SpaceX revealed that it is currently functioning with 69 gas turbines for the Colossus data centers, many of which have been operational for several months. The NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center have filed a lawsuit against xAI regarding the use of these unlicensed turbines.
In February, SpaceX acquired xAI. According to its IPO filing, SpaceX intends to invest $2.8 billion in gas turbines for its data centers over the upcoming three years.
The company contends that it can operate the current turbines without permits since they remain on the trailers from which they were delivered. Nevertheless, federal regulations stipulate that the turbines xAI is using require permits due to their dimensions and operational usage.
The turbines are situated just south of Memphis in Mississippi, near the Tennessee border. This area is among the most polluted regions in the U.S., and xAI has been utilizing gas turbines that could potentially emit over 2,000 tons of smog-producing NOx annually.
Recently, the Department of Justice supported SpaceX in the NAACP lawsuit, asserting that the issue of unpermitted turbines relates to “national, economic, and energy security.”
SpaceX’s new power facility will feature 41 gas turbines varying from 16.48 megawatts to 50 megawatts, as indicated in permit documents provided by the state of Mississippi. They seem to differ from those currently utilized, yet TechCrunch was unable to confirm the precise models of the 69 active turbines.
Earlier this year, Elon Musk purchased APR Energy, a firm specializing in temporary natural gas power solutions. According to an archive of the company’s website prior to its removal, the turbines in APR Energy’s inventory also seem to be distinct from those referenced in permits for the forthcoming permanent power facility.
Considering that APR Energy’s turbines are unlikely to be included in the new Colossus power facility, it is probable that the new turbine fleet is aimed at another, unspecified project.
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