Residents sue xAI over noise from turbines powering its Colossus supercomputer

Residents living near the Tennessee-Mississippi state line filed a federal class action lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, according to Action News 5. It says gas-fired turbines powering xAI’s data center operations produce constant noise and vibration in South Memphis, Whitehaven and Southaven, Mississippi.

The named plaintiffs are Robert Carter and Sabrina Anderson. They seek to represent a proposed class of nearby property owners and residents.

What the lawsuit says

According to the filing as reported by Action News 5, xAI rapidly deployed dozens of unpermitted gas-fired combustion turbines at its 2875 Stanton Road South facility. The suit says the turbines generate electricity for the company’s supercomputers, including the Colossus cluster used to train and run its chatbot, Grok.

The complaint says that between August and September 2025 the company expanded the number of on-site turbines from three to 18, and eventually to 69. It says this happened despite complaints from residents and warnings from municipal officials.

Neighbors quoted in the filing describe the noise as sounding like a “jet engine.” The complaint says the sound includes high-pitched squealing and low-frequency hums, and that vibrations penetrate closed doors and windows 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The plaintiffs allege sleep deprivation, chronic migraines, anxiety and tinnitus. They say many residents cannot use their yards or open their windows. The suit also claims the noise has lowered local property values.

The 55-page complaint makes five claims under Tennessee common law and the City of Memphis Code of Ordinances:

• private nuisance
• public nuisance
• negligence
• negligence per se, alleging violations of Memphis noise ordinances
• trespass, based on noise and vibration entering residents’ property

The plaintiffs want a jury trial. They also ask for a court order requiring xAI to halt or substantially quiet the turbines, compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Measurements and organizing

CBS News found nighttime noise levels near the site of around 50 to 60 decibels, NDTV reported. The World Health Organization recommends a nighttime level of 40 decibels.

Krystal Polk, 52, told CBS News that she used to hear birds at her family home. “It’s like you’re in the middle of the airport where the planes are taking off, but they never take off,” she said. Another resident said the noise could be felt “in your chest almost.”

Residents formed a group called the Safe and Sound Coalition. Its petition asking for the power plant to be shut down has more than 1,400 signatures, according to NDTV.

xAI’s expansion in the area

Construction of the Colossus 1 data center began just north of Southaven in 2024. Two more data centers had been announced by January 2026. In July, Musk confirmed another data center, called “Minihard,” in a reply on X, NDTV reported.

Musk’s SpaceX and xAI projects are expected to bring more than $20 billion in investment to Southaven. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has welcomed the projects. He said they will “bring amazing opportunities to its residents for generations.”

NDTV reported that xAI has begun installing sound walls and silencers. Residents told reporters there has been little improvement so far.