Residents around xAI’s temporary power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, have been grappling with the persistent noise of 27 gas turbines, installed without prior consultation with the community. For several months, the area has been plagued by constant roaring, popping, and high-pitched whining sounds.
According to a report by NBC News released on Thursday, locals have been actively campaigning to decommission these turbines. The community alleges that xAI maintains the turbines at all hours, with the noise being a byproduct of founder Elon Musk’s ambitious AI projects.
The long-term plan involves replacing these with 41 permanent gas turbines, said to generate less noise, contingent on acquiring the necessary permits. Meanwhile, xAI has set up a $7 million “sound barrier” intended to reduce the noise. However, many residents, like Taylor Logsdon, have criticized the effectiveness of this barrier, sarcastically comparing it to the low-cost goods sold on the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu.
The noise from the turbines has been distressing for both humans and animals in the vicinity, as Logsdon notes that her dogs remain disturbed by the sudden loud sounds. Other residents have echoed this sentiment, describing the experience as “scary.”
In response to the disruption, the Safe and Sound Coalition, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, is gathering evidence to raise awareness within the community. The group aims to prevent xAI from obtaining permits for the permanent turbines. Their website features videos, noise analysis reports, and public documents illustrating the difficulty in accessing communication records between xAI and local authorities.
The coalition’s videos capture continuous noise and sporadic loud bangs, which often precede intensified roaring. Efforts to procure public records about xAI's compliance with noise ordinances or details concerning the sound barrier have been largely unfruitful. A city planning director indicated no involvement with the barrier, and a permit clerk confirmed the absence of relevant documents.