Musk’s xAI to build small solar farm adjacent Colossus data center

Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI plans to build an 88-acre solar farm adjacent to its Colossus data center in Memphis, one of the world’s largest AI model training facilities. The solar farm is expected to generate about 30 megawatts of electricity, roughly 10% of the data center’s power needs. This initiative complements xAI’s earlier announcement of a nearby solar project paired with 100 megawatts of grid-scale batteries to provide continuous power. The solar farm’s developer, Seven States Power Company, received a substantial $439 million federal award, including a $414 million interest-free loan, highlighting significant government support despite recent cutbacks in clean energy funding. However, xAI has faced criticism and legal challenges related to its current energy operations. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), in collaboration with the NAACP, alleges that xAI has operated over 35 gas turbines without proper permits, emitting more than 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOX