What’s happening in Mississippi
Southaven, Mississippi — just across the Tennessee state line from Memphis — has become ground zero for the fight against xAI’s illegal data center expansion. Elon Musk’s company has built a sprawling 114-acre power plant site with as many as 33 unpermitted gas turbines to power its Colossus 2 data center across the border.
The NAACP filed a Clean Air Act lawsuit in April 2026 and is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt operations immediately. The turbines produce more than 1,700 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides per year, 236 tons of fine particulate matter, and 19 tons of formaldehyde — a cancer-causing chemical. The American Lung Association recently gave DeSoto County (Southaven) an “F” for ozone pollution.
Residents testified at a packed Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality hearing about the facility’s impact on their health and quality of life. “Breathing has become more difficult than it should ever be. This is not an inconvenience — this is a health crisis inside my own home,” said Chestela Farmer, a Southaven mother who lives next to the xAI plant.
Devan Jenkins, whose family home sits along the border, has watched trees give way to massive power lines and industrial development. “It seems to me that we are being very thoroughly thrown under the bus,” said a former choir director whose daughter and granddaughter live in the neighborhood next to the turbines. “I don’t think it would have been done if the powers that be thought we could fight back.”
xAI is now planning to build a permanent 41-turbine power plant at the Southaven site, plus a third data center called “Macrohardrr.”
Why Mississippi residents are concerned
Water supply. A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling operations — equivalent to the daily water use of approximately 10,000 homes. Nationally, AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Electricity rates. Data centers draw continuous, massive power loads — 50 to 300+ megawatts per facility. Without dedicated rate structures, residential ratepayers absorb the cost of grid upgrades needed to serve these industrial loads. At least 18 states have introduced bills in 2026 creating special rate classes for large energy users.
Property values. Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — negatively impacts residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, continuous noise, and industrial traffic are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.
Noise. Data center cooling systems and backup generators produce persistent low-frequency noise that operates 24/7. Residents near facilities in Virginia, Georgia, and across the country report sleep disruption, elevated stress, and degraded quality of life.
Environment. Data centers generate diesel emissions from backup generators, increase impervious surface coverage causing stormwater runoff, and create heat island effects. Construction permanently removes land from agricultural or ecological use.
How to oppose a data center in Mississippi
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How can I oppose a data center in Mississippi?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.