SpaceXAI to Remove Unpermitted Turbines, Replace with 1.2GW Power Plant
SpaceXAI will remove 69 unpermitted turbine generators at its Colossus data centers near the US-Mexico border by July 2027, replacing them with a 1.2GW power plant. The move comes after a lawsuit claimed the turbines caused pollution. The company deployed the turbines to power its data centers quickly, but critics argue they lacked necessary permits.
Key points
- SpaceXAI will remove 69 unpermitted turbine generators at its Colossus data centers near the US-Mexico border by July 2027.
- The generators will be replaced by a 1.2GW power plant, which is expected to take a year to come online.
- The turbines were deployed to power the data centers quickly, but critics argue they lacked necessary permits.
- A lawsuit claimed the turbines caused pollution, prompting the removal.
- The move follows a trend of data center operators deploying their own turbines to power servers.
SpaceXAI to Remove Unpermitted Turbines, Replace with 1.2GW Power Plant
SpaceXAI has announced plans to remove 69 unpermitted turbine generators at its Colossus data centers near the US-Mexico border by July 2027. The generators will be replaced by a 1.2GW power plant, which is expected to take a year to come online.
The turbines were deployed to power the data centers quickly, but critics argue they lacked necessary permits. A lawsuit claimed the turbines caused pollution, prompting the removal. The move follows a trend of data center operators deploying their own turbines to power servers.
SpaceXAI's Colossus data centers have been at the center of controversy due to the unpermitted turbines. The company has argued that the mobile and temporary nature of the units exempted them from necessary permits. However, the EPA has said that the turbines did not have the required permits to operate.
The removal of the turbines is a significant development for the data center industry. It remains to be seen how the industry will adapt to the changing regulations and environmental concerns.
Sources
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