STORY · MODELLER_
SpaceX won't remove all illegal turbines powering xAI until July 2027
SpaceX has admitted that 69 illegal gas turbines powering xAI's Colossus data centers near Memphis will not be completely removed until July 2027. The company is building a permanent 1.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant as a replacement, and claims the turbines are permitted because they stand on the trailers they were transported on – an interpretation that contradicts federal rules.
WHY IT MATTERS
The turbines are critical infrastructure for xAI's AI operations, and the conflict over their illegal operation highlights the tension between the AI industry's energy demands and environmental regulation. The case reflects how AI data centers are affecting infrastructure policy and the environment in the US.
SOURCES
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