AI Power Plant Noise Shakes Mississippi Town

A quiet road in Southaven, Miss. , turned into a nonstop roar when Elon Musk’s company installed 18 methane turbines last summer. The machines, meant to feed the electricity demands of new AI data centers, started humming day and night, upsetting residents who had never heard such loud machinery in their community. Eddie Gossett, 76, woke up to the sound of a jet engine and later joked that he might move away if it didn’t stop. He worries about both the noise and the air pollution that could affect his health and property value. The turbines were part of a larger plan: Musk’s xAI bought an old power plant and announced plans to invest over $20 billion in the area, including a new data center called MACROHARDRR. The company has already added nine more turbines, bringing the total to 27, and is seeking a permit for 41 permanent units on a 114‑acre site. Tech giants such as Microsoft, OpenAI and Google are similarly expanding their data center footprints across the U. S. , which creates a tug‑of‑war between potential job creation and rising energy costs for local communities. Residents argue that the plant’s noise is not just annoying but also a sign of hidden environmental risks, including the release of pollutants like formaldehyde.Southaven’s mayor acknowledged the concerns but framed them as part of a broader political attack on Musk. He defended the project by pointing to expected job growth and a recent $1. 38 million donation from an affiliated company for the police department. The mayor also claimed that a $7 million sound wall was being installed to reduce noise, though some neighbors say it has little effect. Environmental groups, including the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center, have filed lawsuits claiming the turbines operate without proper permits. They argue that temporary turbines should be regulated like conventional power plants and that the plant’s emissions could harm nearby low‑income and predominantly Black communities. Despite these tensions, xAI has not publicly released a noise analysis or detailed mitigation plan. The local environmental agency says it does not require permits for temporary turbines but has warned the company to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions. Residents continue to voice their frustrations, with some sharing recordings of the constant hum that now fills their streets.