Mississippi residents sue Musk’s xAI and SpaceX over data centre ‘nuisance’ | Courts News
Mississippi Residents Sue Musk’s Companies Over Noise Pollution from Data Center Power Plant
Published: June 9, 2026
Residents of a Mississippi community have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s companies, xAI and SpaceX, claiming that noise emanating from a nearby power plant has severely impacted their health and property values. The suit, filed in federal court in Oxford, alleges the companies have failed to address the excessive noise generated by gas-fired turbines at the facility, which serves data centers in the area.
The lawsuit, made public Tuesday, argues that the noise is “omnipresent and inescapable,” constituting a public nuisance that subjects local residents to near-constant disturbances. Three individuals initiated the case as representatives of a class estimated to include over 10,000 affected residents.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for emotional distress, diminished property values, and other related grievances, along with the return of unspecified profits earned by the companies.
SpaceX and xAI have not responded to requests for comment from Reuters. A subsidiary of xAI, MZX Tech, is also named in the lawsuit, while Musk himself is not included as a defendant.
Robert Wiygul, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the impact of the noise on residents’ quality of life. “Our homes are supposed to be a sanctuary for us against the world,” he stated. He added that constant noise disrupts the peace that is essential for a good life.
The power plant, located in Southaven, was constructed with over $20 billion in investments, supported by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. The facility powers data centers in and around the area, according to the lawsuit.
In a related development, the civil rights group NAACP filed a separate lawsuit against xAI last month, alleging violations of U.S. environmental regulations concerning the power plant and data centers. That case is still pending. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice indicated in a recent court filing that it may seek to intervene in the NAACP lawsuit, highlighting significant legal and policy questions regarding the government’s role in AI infrastructure.
