On a two-acre property in Mississippi, 52-year-old Krystal Polk’s family lived off the land for generations, raising chickens and pigs, growing onions and herbs, and trading their peaches for pears. The land, situated on the border with Tennessee in the city of Southaven, was acquired before people of color were allowed to legally own property, serving as a vital family anchor for four decades. However, holding onto the historic homestead became difficult after a noisy power plant was built across the street to power Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI data centers in the Memphis area. The facility has sparked strong backlash from local residents concerned about severe noise and air pollution. A resident-run petition by the Safe and Sound Coalition calling for the shutdown of the plant has surpassed 1,400 signatures. Polk described the relentless noise as sounding like constant airplane takeoffs, driving her family away from the land. While SpaceXAI stated in July that it is investing millions in sound walls and silencers with advanced quieting technologies, residents report that the current measures provide little relief. Musk’s regional projects total more than $20 billion in investments, which Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves noted would bring major opportunities. Yet, for Polk and other residents, the development has brought severe strain. Alongside constant noise, Polk and her family suffer from asthma and fear hazardous fumes from the plant’s gas turbines. In April, the NAACP and other groups filed a lawsuit against xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging significant harmful pollutant emissions. SpaceXAI filed a motion to dismiss, and the Department of Justice intervened, stating the matter involves national security and that the lawsuit could hinder AI use for national defense. Meanwhile, an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality involves replacing temporary turbines with permanent ones, though an EmPower Analytics Group study warned this could increase air pollution in predominantly Black communities. As SpaceXAI expands its reach, the future of Polk’s property remains uncertain amid ongoing real estate inquiries and her father’s dying wish to keep the land within the family.
Source: cbsnews.com
