Musk's Dual Approach of Solar and Gas to Compete for Electricity: xAI Memphis Solar Farm Plan Unveiled, 30 MW Can Only Satisfy 10% of Colossus's Demand

xAI submitted documents to local planning authorities, proposing to build a solar farm on the west and south sides of the 88-acre Colossus supercomputing center, while also disclosing a 24/7 clean power plan that includes 88 megawatts of photovoltaic (PV) and 100 megawatts of storage. However, the estimated 30 megawatts of power generation would only meet about 10% of Colossus's electricity needs, forcing Musk to continue relying on the controversial natural gas turbine arrays that have already sparked public outrage.

Details of the PV Plan  

- Scale: 88 megawatts of PV and 100 megawatts of battery storage. Developer Seven States Power received a $439 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with $414 million as an interest-free loan  

- Timeline: Construction is scheduled to start in Q1 2026, with grid connection expected by Q2 2027. The project aims to replace some natural gas power generation and reduce peak electricity price shocks.

Gas Controversy Intensifies  

- Unpermitted Operations: Over 400 megawatts of natural gas turbines have been deployed near Colossus, including 35 large units that emit more than 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides annually. These have been sued by the Southern Environmental Law Center and NAACP  

- Health Impacts: A study by the University of Tennessee showed that after Colossus started operating, NO₂ peak concentrations in the Boxtown community (predominantly Black residents) increased by 79%, with a rise in asthma and respiratory emergencies among residents  

- Regulatory Loopholes: xAI has received temporary permission to operate 15 turbines until January 2027, while adding 59 more turbines at Colossus2 in Mississippi. 18 of these are labeled "temporary" to avoid pollution tracking.

"Solar power is just a cover-up?" environmental groups said, pointing out that if Colossus continues to expand, the share of solar energy will still be below 15%. They call on the state government to enforce a renewable energy ratio requirement for xAI instead of continuously issuing temporary gas permits. Musk, meanwhile, publicly responded that "solar plus storage" is a transitional solution, with the ultimate goal of achieving 100% clean power by 2028, but without providing a specific roadmap or time commitment.