Residents in Mississippi are suing Elon Musk’s companies,xAI and SpaceX, over noise from a power plant fueling local data centers. They say it's harming their health and property values. The class action, filed Tuesday in federal court in Oxford, involves over 10,000 people.
Plaintiffs claim the companies ignored noise they call “omnipresent and inescapable.” They argue it's a public nuisance causing emotional distress,lower property values,and other damages. They're seeking compensation and return of unspecified profits.
Noise and vibrations from Southaven plant's gas-fired turbines have made life unbearable. “Our homes are supposed to be a sanctuary against the world,” said Robert Wiygul,plaintiffs' attorney. Constant noise wrecks the peace needed for good life.
More than $20 billion has gone into the Southaven facility, supported by Governor Tate Reeves. MZX Tech, an xAI subsidiary,is also named. Neither SpaceX nor xAI commented on the lawsuit.
This comes after lawsuit by NAACP in April against xAI, citing environmental violations. That case is pending. U.S. Department of Justice may step in,pointing to major legal and policy issues around AI infrastructure.
The lawsuit highlights growing worries about AI boom's impact on U.S. communities . Residents say facility expansion disrupts their lives… How to balance tech progress with community well-being?
