Mississippi Farmer Battles Elon Musk-Backed Data Center Over Noise and Pollution

A quiet farming community in Southaven, Mississippi is facing the consequences of a data center installation tied to SpaceXAI. The project has brought constant noise and worsening air quality to the area, with residents like Krystal Polk reporting asthma-related episodes. Polk's family has owned land in the area for four generations, but she says it no longer feels livable due to the nearby industrial activity.

Polk describes the sound as a persistent low roar, similar to an airport that never takes off. The project involves 69 temporary gas turbines, which are expected to be replaced by 41 permanent structures. However, advocates warn that air-quality risks can remain significant near residential areas.

The NAACP and other groups have pursued legal action against MZX Tech, a subsidiary tied to the project, alleging negligence around air and noise impacts. A petition calling for stronger environmental practices has drawn over 1,400 signatures. SpaceXAI has pointed to mitigation plans, including investments in noise-reducing barriers.

For Polk, it's not just about the noise and pollution, it's a bid to keep her family history from being priced out by the servers next door. She argues that the land is more than just a parcel of property, but a hard-won foothold in a region where ownership has long been uneven.