xAI powers Mississippi data center with 8 converted jet turbines
The generators have state permits allowing a 25% higher limit for volatile organic compounds. An environmental group has challenged the approval, alleging shortcomings in xAI’s emissions assurances and projections.
In this article
xAI is using 8 converted jet-engine turbines to power a Mississippi data center, Tom’s Hardware said. Each turbine can produce up to 50 megawatts of electricity. That is its rated capacity, not a measurement of how much electricity it is generating.
The installation is part of a broader search for electricity to run data centers. The New York Times said growing demand is prompting companies to turn old aircraft engines into electrical generators, which data centers are buying.
Missouri-based ProEnergy converts the generators used by xAI, repurposing unused General Electric aircraft turbines.
Emissions permits face a challenge
The generators have the required state permission and permits, which allow a 25% higher limit for volatile organic compounds, a class of pollutants. A higher permitted limit is not a measurement of actual emissions.
Tom’s Hardware, citing The New York Times, said the Southern Environmental Law Center has challenged Mississippi’s approval of the turbines. The group argues that xAI has not provided guarantees that the equipment meets emissions standards for pollutants including formaldehyde. It also accuses the company of undercounting projected emissions from the data center’s power sources.
Earlier in Technology
Superintelligence3AM encrypted about 37 UK school machines in September, Bitdefender says
Bitdefender says a 3AM affiliate encrypted about 37 UK school machines in September. It suspects superintelligence (SI) assistance because slightly changed commands repeated every 40 to 100 seconds. But researchers could not inspect the attacker’s machine or establish autonomous operation: a person could have copied instructions and results between malicious software and a model.
2 min
InfrastructureGermany’s regulator selects 11 backup power projects
The gas-fired plants are planned for 2031 to back up wind and solar power. A new consumer levy will finance annual costs of just over €800 million, but its effect on individual bills is unclear.
1 min
SoftwareEuropean police arrest 7 and seize over 100 scam servers
Authorities targeted an unnamed company they allege supplied fraudulent trading websites to criminal groups, with suspected call-center clients in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
2 min
