- Since Elon Musk built AI data centers in Memphis at breakneck speed, residents have been grappling with unwanted noise and emissions.
- Citing SpaceXAI and Memphis as a cautionary tale, data center-related policy proposals, protests and litigation are underway across the country.
- Public opposition to data centers is rising in response to developments planned or underway from Microsoft, Meta, Google, OpenAI and other hyperscalers.
Two years after Elon Musk made Greater Memphis the center of his artificial intelligence ambitions, building data centers and energy infrastructure at breakneck speed, residents are grappling with unwanted effects, including noise and emissions from the natural gas-burning turbines.
Now, public opposition to the SpaceXAI sites, known as Colossus and Colossus II, is providing a blueprint for other communities across the country opposed to AI developments.
This week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul enacted a one-year moratorium on the construction of AI data centers in her state, drawing the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, an ally of Musk…