SpaceX is reportedly seeking to buy 418 homes in Colonial Hills, a Southaven neighbourhood near its expanding artificial intelligence operations. The properties are close to a power station supplying electricity to Colossus II, an AI computing complex operated by MZX, a SpaceX subsidiary.
MZX has told residents it needs additional property for company operations, while Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite has said some homes could be used to accommodate incoming employees. Real estate agents have reportedly approached homeowners with offers on the company’s behalf. Reports say those offers are conditional on owners withdrawing from a pending lawsuit over noise from gas turbines.
Residents involved in the lawsuit say turbine noise from nearby electricity facilities has disrupted their daily lives and sleep. Plaintiffs have described a persistent high-pitched hum and a sound resembling an aircraft engine. The complaints concern Colossus I and II, and residents have also raised allegations of air pollution and turbines operating without required permits.
SpaceX has said it intends to remove unauthorized turbines within a year, as a 1.2-gigawatt power station becomes operational. The company disputes residents’ complaints and says it has taken steps to limit disruption, including reducing power output and installing sound barriers.
Musselwhite says municipal monitoring has not recorded noise above Southaven’s 70-decibel legal limit. Some specialists, however, warn that sustained exposure to sound levels around 50 decibels could affect health. Residents are divided, with some accepting the reported offers and others continuing to oppose the industrial operations.
The mayor has rejected suggestions that the purchases would leave Colonial Hills dominated by a single employer. He has said the company plans to provide housing for employees while offering an option to residents who find the nearby industrial development disruptive.
Sources: TechRadar.