xAI Plans Natural Gas Power Plant in Mississippi for Data Centers
Elon Musk's AI company wants to build its own gas-burning power plant to fuel its growing data center operations.
xAI is making a big energy play. The company plans to build a massive natural gas power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, specifically to power its data centers.
But there's a catch worth noting. A critical meeting with regulators about the project has been scheduled on election day — roughly 200 miles away from Southaven. That's a logistical setup that could limit local participation from the community most directly affected by the plant.
The move underscores how AI companies are increasingly confronting the raw physics of their ambitions. Training and running large AI models devours electricity, and xAI apparently wants to control its own power supply rather than rely on the grid.
Building dedicated power infrastructure is a significant escalation in the AI arms race. It also raises questions about environmental impact and regulatory oversight as these projects accelerate.