SpaceX won’t remove all of xAI’s unpermitted turbines for another year
SpaceX says it will remove the unpermitted gas turbines powering xAI’s Colossus data centres near Memphis, but the process will not finish until July 2027. The announcement matters because the turbines are the subject of legal action and pollution concerns in an already heavily polluted region, while SpaceX builds a permanent natural-gas plant with 1.2 gigawatts of capacity.
The company is operating 69 turbines and argues that they do not need permits because they remain on shipping trailers; federal rules reportedly dispute that interpretation. The turbines could emit more than 2,000 tonnes of smog-forming nitrogen oxides annually, and the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have sued xAI; the US Department of Justice supported SpaceX last month on national security grounds. Mississippi permits show the planned plant will use 41 turbines of 16.48 to 50 megawatts, while SpaceX also plans $2.8 billion of turbine purchases over three years.
- Unpermitted xAI turbines may remain until July 2027.
- Legal challenge centres on permits and air pollution.
- SpaceX is building a 1.2GW gas power plant.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of allowing a managed transition argue that removing the turbines immediately could disrupt power for critical data-centre operations and make it harder to replace temporary generation with a safer, properly permitted plant. They may see a firm timetable for removal, alongside construction of permanent infrastructure, as a practical way to restore compliance without creating avoidable operational or economic harm.
The case against
Critics argue that unpermitted industrial turbines should not remain in operation simply because replacement plans are under way, particularly if they affect local air quality or set a precedent that powerful companies can operate first and seek approval later. They would say regulators should enforce the rules consistently, require rapid mitigation, and ensure nearby residents are not asked to bear the costs of an extended period of non-compliance.