Mississippi

SpaceXAI is removing 69 gas-powered turbines from its data center facility in Southhaven, Mississippi, following an agreed order with the state's Department of Environmental Quality that establishes a timeline for their removal.

Broadband Breakfast · Mississippi

Lagniappe Daily · Mississippi

xAI is building a fourth data center called "Minihard" near its existing Memphis-area facilities, while SpaceXAI plans to remove 69 turbines from its Southaven site and replace them with a permanent 1.2-gigawatt power plant featuring 41 turbines, with removal beginning in August and completing by July 2027.

Action News 5 · DeSoto Co., MS · also at Action News 5, WTOK

Meridian Community College and Compass Datacenters launched Mississippi's first data center workforce training program, a 14-week course offering hands-on instruction in mechanical, electrical and information technology systems. The fully-funded program for 12 inaugural students beginning this fall requires no prior experience and could lead to careers paying 30 to 50 percent above local median wages.

WTOK · Lauderdale Co., MS · also at WTOK, WTOK

Mississippi's environmental agency announced a retirement schedule for 69 temporary gas turbines powering xAI's Southaven data centers, beginning Aug. 18, while allowing 13 units to run past their original 12-month deadline—up to five months longer due to supply chain delays affecting permanent turbine installation.

DeSoto County News · DeSoto Co., MS

SpaceX agreed to remove 69 temporary gas turbines powering an xAI data center in Southaven, Mississippi by July 2027 under an order with state environmental regulators, replacing them with a permanent 1.2 gigawatt power plant authorized under a Clean Air Act permit.

qz.com · DeSoto Co., MS

SpaceXAI announced it will remove 69 temporary turbines powering its $20 billion DeSoto County data center between August and July 2027, following an agreement with Mississippi's environmental agency. The company is installing sound walls and advanced quieting technology while constructing a permanent 1.2 GW power plant.

SuperTalk Mississippi Media · DeSoto Co., MS

Compass Datacenters is launching Mississippi's first Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology Data Center Pathway Program with Meridian Community College to train residents for technical roles supporting data center operations. The 14-week program offers full-tuition scholarships and prepares participants with no prior experience for positions in the growing digital infrastructure sector.

Data Centre Magazine · Lauderdale Co., MS

Entergy customers in Mississippi will bear $367.7 million in costs for a new solar power plant in DeSoto County designed to supply electricity to Amazon data centers located in Madison County, according to a filing with the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Substack · Mississippi

Mississippi residents and Memphis-area community members attended an NAACP town hall to demand xAI shut down turbines operating without permits near its data center. The gathering heard concerns about air quality impacts, with organizers noting three lawsuits filed over pollution and unpermitted turbines, and citing xAI's 41 permitted versus 60 unpermitted turbines.

The Cool Down · DeSoto Co., MS

Compass Datacenters and Meridian Community College launched the MEI Data Center Pathway Program, a 14-week training initiative designed to prepare Mississippians for data center careers. The program, which begins this fall with full-tuition scholarships for the inaugural class, requires no prior degree or experience and is based on a successful model already operating in Texas.

PR Newswire · Lauderdale Co., MS

Meridian Community College and Compass are launching a 14-week data center training program to prepare workers for a multi-data-center campus in the Meridian area, with Compass providing full scholarships for the first cohort. The program covers mechanical, electrical and IT roles and is modeled after a similar Compass initiative in Texas.

tippahnews.com · Lauderdale Co., MS

SpaceXAI will remove 69 temporary turbines from its Southaven data center starting August 2026, completing removal by July 2027, as it constructs a permanent 1.2 GW power plant under an agreed order with Mississippi's environmental agency.

Action News 5 · DeSoto Co., MS · also at Action News 5, WLBT, WTVA

SpaceXAI will begin removing 69 temporary turbines from its Southaven facility as early as August, with completion targeted for July 2027, as part of an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The company is adding pollution-control and noise-reduction technology to the temporary turbines while constructing a permanent 1.2-gigawatt power plant.

FOX13 Memphis · DeSoto Co., MS

SpaceXAI and the State of Mississippi agreed to wind down some of the company's power plant operations in Southaven, the company announced Thursday.

Daily Memphian · DeSoto Co., MS

Meridian Community College and Compass are launching a 14-week training program to prepare Mississippians for jobs at a data center campus being built in the region, with the first cohort receiving full scholarships and positions expected to pay 30-50% above median wages.

Magnolia Tribune · Lauderdale Co., MS

Headline onlyMLex · Mississippi · also at MLex

Headline onlyMLex · Mississippi · also at MLex

Mississippi offers data centers a 10-year exemption on sales and use taxes for construction materials and equipment, plus income and franchise tax exemptions. Companies must be approved by the Mississippi Development Authority, invest at least $20 million and create at least 20 full-time jobs paying 125% of the average state wage.

DeSoto County News · Mississippi · also at Sun Herald

Mississippi is investing in fiber networks and data centers, with Amazon Web Services announcing $12 billion in additional data center investment in Ridgeland and Clinton, and Connecticut-based AVAIO Digital breaking ground on a $6 billion data center campus in Brandon. Telecommunications company C Spire is expanding rural broadband access across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee while developing AI systems to improve network operations.

Site Selection Magazine · Mississippi

Fort Madison's Planning & Zoning Commission will meet Tuesday to discuss zoning ordinances related to extraterritorial zoning and high-impact developments, prompted by a proposed data center project at 2201 S. Business 61 South outside city limits.

Daily Gate City · Mississippi

Headline onlyThe Clarion-Ledger · Mississippi · also at The Commercial Appeal

Headline onlyWREG.com · DeSoto Co., MS

Thirty data centers under construction in Mississippi are creating demand for skilled workers, prompting state universities and local communities to develop talent pipelines. The state also aims to support electronic manufacturing needs, with Jabil announcing a new plant expected to hire over 2,000 employees.

MPB — Mississippi Public Broadcasting · Mississippi

Southaven's city council passed a 5-1 ordinance amendment prohibiting homeowners from displaying broken blinds, shutters, or temporary window coverings visible from public streets, with only Alderman Jerome voting against the measure.

Substack · DeSoto Co., MS

Vicksburg, Mississippi residents protested Saturday against a proposed Amazon data center in Warren County, citing concerns about noise, pollution, and increased utility costs near an elementary school. The Jackson City Council separately approved a six-month pause on data center projects.

The Cool Down · Warren Co., MS

A federal judge questioned Jackson officials about discussions of a data center at Lake Hico, a historically significant city site. The mayor said any developer plans are premature, while the city council recently approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers and is developing regulations addressing noise, water use, and energy concerns.

tippahnews.com · Mississippi

Headline onlyMississippi Today · Hinds Co., MS

Headline onlyThe Cool Down · Hinds Co., MS · also at Yahoo, MSN

Headline onlytippahnews.com · Mississippi