Elon Musk is expanding his Colossus 2 AI supercomputing complex in Tennessee with two additional sites, dubbed Spam and Gun Range, which he said on X were tracking to be operational in December and by the end of November respectively, as a judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging xAI and MZX Tech unlawfully operated unpermitted methane gas turbines.
Musk said on X that the Spam location used to house Hormel-brand products, Spam perhaps among them, and the Gun Range location was once owned by the local police department. “I walked the whole Colossus 2 site around midnight and again this morning. Good progress by the SpaceX team and contractors,” Musk said. “Gun Range is tracking to be operational by end of November and Spam in December.”
The expansion follows the establishment of Colossus, a supercomputer built in Memphis in 2024. xAI was acquired by SpaceX and later expanded the project with Colossus 2 to generate more power for its AI chatbot Grok. The facilities have drawn local opposition, with residents packing public hearings, staging protests, and creating petitions. In April, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging they were unlawfully operating unpermitted methane gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, to power Colossus 2. Last week, a US District Judge denied xAI and MZX Tech's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The expansion shows the rapid pace of AI infrastructure buildout, with Musk aiming for operational new sites within weeks, underscoring the intense demand for compute power for large AI systems.
- The projects continue to stir community and legal opposition, highlighting the tension between AI industry growth and local environmental and zoning concerns.
- The outcome of the NAACP lawsuit could set a precedent for how AI data centers are permitted and regulated, especially regarding emissions.
Background
Colossus is a supercomputer built by xAI in Memphis in 2024 to power its AI chatbot Grok. xAI was later acquired by SpaceX. The Colossus 2 project, also in the Memphis area, is designed to provide additional computing capacity. The facilities have faced protests from residents concerned about noise, emissions, and environmental impact. The NAACP lawsuit alleges that unpermitted methane gas turbines were operated in Southaven, Mississippi, violating environmental regulations.
Key Perspectives
- Elon Musk: Says “good progress” is being made at Colossus 2, and that the new sites Spam and Gun Range will be operational before 2027.
- NAACP: Filed a lawsuit alleging xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech unlawfully operated unpermitted methane gas turbines to power Colossus 2.
What to Watch
- Whether the two new sites meet their declared operational deadlines of late November and December.
- The progress of the NAACP lawsuit after the judge denied the motion to dismiss.
- Any further community action or regulatory developments as Colossus 2 expands.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMusk is expanding Colossus 2 with two additional sites called Spam and Gun Range.All Content from Business Insider: “Musk said on X that he's expanding Colossus 2 with two additional sites, dubbed Spam and Gun Range.”
- SupportedThe two Tennessee sites were expected to be operational before 2027, according to Musk.All Content from Business Insider: “Musk said two additional facilities, Spam and Gun Range, will be operational before 2027.”
- SupportedMusk said he walked the whole Colossus 2 site around midnight and again that morning, and that the SpaceX team and contractors were making good progress.All Content from Business Insider: “"I walked the whole Colossus 2 site around midnight and again this morning. Good progress by the SpaceX team and contractors," Musk said on X.”
- SupportedMusk said Gun Range was tracking to be operational by the end of November and Spam in December.All Content from Business Insider: “"Gun Range is tracking to be operational by end of November and Spam in December."”
- SupportedThe Spam location used to house Hormel-brand products, possibly including Spam.All Content from Business Insider: “He said the Spam location used to house Hormel-brand products, Spam perhaps among them”
- SupportedThe Gun Range location was once owned by the local police department.All Content from Business Insider: “the Gun Range location was once owned by the local police department.”
- SupportedColossus was a supercomputer built in Memphis in 2024.All Content from Business Insider: “Musk to build a supercomputer called Colossus in Memphis in 2024.”
- SupportedSpaceX acquired xAI.All Content from Business Insider: “xAI, acquired by SpaceX, later expanded the project with Colossus 2”
- SupportedColossus 2 was intended to generate more power for xAI's chatbot Grok.All Content from Business Insider: “later expanded the project with Colossus 2 to generate more power for its AI chatbot, Grok.”
- SupportedResidents near Memphis opposed the facilities, including through public hearings, protests and petitions.All Content from Business Insider: “Residents near Memphis have packed public hearings, staged protests, and created petitions opposing the campuses.”
- SupportedIn April, the NAACP filed a lawsuit alleging xAI and MZX Tech unlawfully operated unpermitted methane gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, to power Colossus 2.All Content from Business Insider: “In April, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against xAI and its subsidiary, MZX Tech, saying they were unlawfully operating unpermitted methane gas turbines to power Colossus 2. The complaint said xAI was operating the unpermitted gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi”
- Reports differA US District Judge denied xAI and MZX Tech's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.All Content from Business Insider: “Last week, a judge rejected SpaceX's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the NAACP over Colossus 2. / Last week, a US District Judge denied xAI and MZX Tech's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.”
