Musk’s xAI to build small solar farm adjacent to Colossus data center (techcrunch.com)

Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI told Memphis planners it will build an 88‑acre solar farm adjacent to its Colossus data center — one of the world’s largest facilities for training AI models. The site would likely generate roughly 30 megawatts of electricity, only about 10% of the center’s estimated ~300 MW draw. This modest buildout follows a previously announced plan for a larger 100 MW solar array paired with 100 MW of grid-scale batteries to enable 24/7 power; the solar developer (Seven States Power) has received $439 million in USDA support, including a $414 million interest‑free loan. The announcement comes amid intense scrutiny over xAI’s current use of natural‑gas turbines. Advocacy groups say the company has operated hundreds of megawatts of turbines — some without permits — and at least dozens of units capable of emitting thousands of tons of NOx annually. Researchers found peak NO2 concentrations rose ~79% near the Boxtown community after Colossus began operations, prompting health complaints and a permit that temporarily limits some turbine use to January 2027. For the AI/ML community this highlights a structural tension: large‑scale model training demands massive, reliable power, but small renewables projects cover only a fraction of needs. How companies balance onsite generation, grid investments, storage and regulatory/community impacts will shape the sustainability and social license of future AI infrastructure.