Residents near Elon Musk's xAI data centers in Southaven, Mississippi, have filed a lawsuit alleging that noise and vibrations from a nearby power plant are causing health issues. The plaintiffs, including 46-year-old Jason Haley, claim the constant whirring disrupts sleep and well-being. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Wisconsin and Massachusetts over data center noise. A Gallup poll found majority opposition to local data center construction.
Haley, a longtime Southaven resident, reached out to Mayor Darren Musselwhite about the noise, sharing emails where the mayor acknowledged the issue and promised to work with xAI officials. However, the problem persists, with Haley and others reporting sleepless nights due to the high-pitched noise. The mayor suggested selling their homes as a potential solution.
Data centers, numbering over 4,000 in the U.S., often build their own power plants with limited notice to nearby residents. The lawsuits highlight growing tensions between technological development and community well-being.