Elon Musk's AI power plant is causing chaos in Mississippi due to the huge sound it makes
Published on Feb 27, 2026 at 9:57 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Feb 27, 2026 at 9:35 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Residents in Southaven, Mississippi, have complained about the noise caused by Elon Musk’s xAI new AI power plant.
Last year, xAI announced that it was investing $20 billion into Mississippi, with some of that money earmarked for a new data center.
As part of the plans, the AI company bought a dormant power plant in Southaven, which could be used to generate electricity for the AI data center.
However, locals have said that the power plant is already causing a massive headache.
DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
The xAI power plant will generate electricity for AI data centers
It’s no secret that AI is big business, with it being introduced and implemented across dozens of industries, from robotics to medicine.
And as AI becomes more popular, tech companies are having to work fast to keep up with demand.
There’s already a worldwide shortage of computer components due to increased AI demand.
Meanwhile, companies such as xAI, OpenAI, and Microsoft are investing billions to build data centers and other AI infrastructure.
Last July, xAI announced it had bought a dormant power plant in Mississippi and has since applied for a permit for 41 permanent turbines at the site to help produce electricity for its data centers.
However, locals told NBC that the power plant currently has 27 temporary methane-gas turbines and that they’re pumping out a lot of noise around the clock.
One resident told the outlet that he had been woken up at 2am by the noise, and said that, as it currently stands, he doesn’t think he could give his house away for free because of it.
Others have complained about how quickly the plans have rolled out in their rural residential community.
“The scale, the speed, the intensity of this expansion are unlike anything this area has absorbed,” Southaven local Nathan Reed told NBC.
“This was not a thoughtful, phased development. It was an industrial surge imposed on our residential community.”
The NAACP has accused xAI of powering up the temporary turbines without a proper permit.
Earlier this month, the Southern Environmental Law Center gave xAI a 60-day notice over the turbines and said it plans to sue the tech giant on behalf of the NAACP under the Clean Air Act.
Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology
The tech giant has built a wall to try and combat the sound
Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite said the noise caused by the power plant was ‘a legitimate concern’, but said that xAI had been working to address the issues raised.
He told NBC that the AI company had built a ‘$7 million sound wall’ to help muffle the sound.
However, those living nearby say the wall hasn’t made much difference to the noise levels.
Musselwhite went on to say that the xAI was considering getting rid of some of the louder turbines, and added that the permanent turbines xAI is planning to build at the site will be quieter than the temporary ones currently in use.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
With a background in both local and national press in the UK, Claire has covered a range of topics, including technology, gaming, and cryptocurrency, since joining the editorial team at Supercar Blondie in May 2024. Her ability to be first to a story has been integral to making SB’s coverage of scientific discovery, AI, and global tech news a slick 24/7 operation.
