xAI buys homes in Southaven, Mississippi to silence noise complaints over Musk data center power plant

In Southaven, Mississippi, residents near a power plant serving Elon Musk's xAI data center are receiving offers to sell their homes, with a catch: they must agree not to sue over noise. Real estate agents working for xAI have gone door to door, and one resident says the target is to buy more than 400 homes. The power plant, central to xAI's AI ambitions, has drawn complaints over its noise, and the buyouts appear aimed at preempting litigation. Since xAI was folded into SpaceX in February, the company has been expanding its infrastructure footprint. For homeowners, the offers present a dilemma: accept a sale and relocate, or stay and potentially face ongoing disruption. The situation highlights the growing friction between tech infrastructure and residential communities. As data centers proliferate, such conflicts may become more common, forcing towns to weigh economic benefits against quality of life.