Residents present petition against xAI to Southaven aldermen
Photo: Shannon Samsa of the Safe and Sound Coalition addresses aldermen and Mayor Darren Musselwhite. (City of Southaven-Municipal Government on YouTube)
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The Southaven Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening to address the rapid expansion of Elon Musk’s xAI infrastructure, a session that highlighted a sharp divide between projected economic windfalls and the frustrations of local neighbors.
A Tale of Two Facilities
xAI in late December officially purchased a second local facility: an 810,000-square-foot warehouse at 2400 State Line Road. Nicknamed “MACROHARDRR,” this site will serve as a massive data center.
However, the primary source of conflict remains the Stanton Road facility (the former Duke Energy plant). This site houses the natural gas turbines currently powering the regional supercomputer clusters. Residents clarified that while the State Line Road acquisition brings jobs, the Stanton Road plant is causing “relentless” disruption.
“Jet Engine” Noise and the Safe and Sound Coalition
Jason Haley, a 20-year resident of the Colonial Hills subdivision, told the board that high-pitched noise from turbines—located half a mile from his elevated property—has made sleep impossible. “It sounds like a jet engine on a runway,” Haley said, noting that a $7 million sound wall has failed to muffle the high-frequency whirring that persists 24/7.
Furthering the opposition, Shannon Samsa, a healthcare professional and founder of the Safe and Sound Coalition, presented a petition with over 700 signatures from Colonial Hills and Horn Lake residents. Samsa raised alarms over a regulatory loophole allowing the turbines to operate for up to a year without standard public notice or air quality monitoring. She cited concerns over nitrogen oxide levels and the proximity of ten local schools.
“Our health and peace of mind were sold off,” Samsa stated. “Not all money is good money.”
Economic Gains vs. Quality of Life
Mayor Darren Musselwhite defended the partnership, projecting that xAI will inject $60 million annually into DeSoto County by 2028, with $20 million going directly to Southaven’s general fund. He argued these funds are essential for hiring police, improving parks, and fixing infrastructure without federal grants.
To address complaints, Musselwhite said a $12.8 million noise mitigation plan involving a massive dirt berm and evergreen landscaping at the Stanton Road site. He emphasized that the current turbines are temporary “bridge” power until permanent, housed units are integrated.
Musselwhite detailed further his position on a Mayor’s Report blog post on the official City website. (click here)
Other Board Actions
The board also approved:
- $3.46 million in road improvements for State Line Road, funded by xAI subsidiary MCX Tech.
- The condemnation of the old Checkers property on Northwest Drive to remove a blighted structure.
- Emergency expenditure for a traffic signal at Tulane and State Line Road.
