Elon Musk’s xAI faces backlash over Election Day environmental hearing

Mississippi’s environmental regulator has rejected appeals to postpone a crucial hearing regarding Elon Musk’s proposed natural gas power plant, despite claims the meeting disenfranchises local residents.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) board will meet on Tuesday—coinciding with the state’s primary elections—to decide on permits for xAI’s massive facility in Southaven.

Civil rights advocates, led by the NAACP, argued that holding the session in Jackson, 200 miles from the affected community, creates an "unnecessary financial burden" and prevents residents from participating in the democratic process.

The controversy surrounds "Macrohardrr," a large-scale data centre intended to bolster xAI’s standing in the generative AI market following its recent $1.25 trillion merger with SpaceX.

Local families have reported persistent noise and air pollution from "temporary" turbines currently operating at the site.

"We are slowly falling out of love with where we have decided to grow our family," noted Taylor Logsdon, a local mother, citing health concerns during a prior public hearing.

The MDEQ defended its schedule, stating the board "regularly meets on the second Tuesday of each month, which has been the standard practice for decades."

However, the NAACP maintains the timing is a deliberate attempt to "sneak xAI's data center into the community's backyard" without adequate transparency.

The clash highlights the growing tension between rapid AI infrastructure expansion and environmental justice, as tech giants face increasing pressure to supply their own power while mitigating the ecological impact on local communities.