Elon Musk's xAI Abandons Terrestrial Solar for Natural Gas, Banking on Orbital Power
xAI is cementing natural gas turbines as its power source while SpaceX positions space-based solar as the long-term solution for AI data centers.
#energy
SpaceX Commits $2.8B to Gas Turbines for xAI Data Centers Amid Power Constraints
SpaceX is investing heavily in portable gas generators to power its AI infrastructure, even as environmental complaints mount.
xAI doubles down on gas turbines despite federal pollution lawsuit
Elon Musk's xAI is committing $2.8B to additional gas turbine capacity over three years, even as the EPA and NAACP challenge its current operations for violating air-quality regulations.
Utah's 40,000-Acre Data Center Faces Environmental Hurdles Despite Fast-Track Approval
Box Elder County commissioners approved the Stratos Project, a massive AI data center backed by Kevin O'Leary, but environmental permits and water sustainability remain unresolved.
Seven in Ten Americans Oppose Local AI Data Centers, Gallup Finds — More Than Ever Opposed Nuclear Plants
A March–April 2026 Gallup survey finds 70%+ of Americans oppose AI data center construction nearby, with resource strain and energy costs as top concerns.
Meta Bets on Space Solar to Power AI Data Centers After Dark
Meta has signed a 1 GW capacity deal with Overview Energy, a startup planning to beam orbital solar power to Earth as near-infrared light.