Southaven mayor touts XAI purchase as residents decry turbine noise, emissions and water use

The mayor of Southaven on Tuesday confirmed that XAI has purchased the building formerly used by GXO at 2400 State Line Road and described the project as a large, “game‑changing” data‑center development that he said could inject more than $20 million into the city’s general fund in a single year.

The announcement came amid extended public comment from residents who said temporary turbine units and other operations tied to the project have created persistent high‑pitched noise, sleep disruption and health concerns. Jason Haley, a Southaven resident, told the board the noise has kept him from being outdoors and has cost him sleep. “This is a big problem,” Haley said, adding that he and neighbors have recorded decibel readings at different levels and collected a petition with more than 700 signatures requesting further public engagement.

Shannon Samsa, who identified herself as a lifelong Southaven resident and a health‑care worker, urged the city to take stronger action. Samsa said the company’s own consultant has proposed 41 permanent turbines and projected 423 tons per year of nitrogen‑oxides emissions, and she raised concerns about hazardous air pollutants, water use and recent layoffs tied to the site’s purchase. “People will die from this. I’m not saying that to be funny. I’m being serious,” Samsa said.

Mayor said the city is continuing to coordinate with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on permitting and monitoring and defended the city’s role in attracting large employers. He said the city negotiated a memorandum of understanding with MCX Tech, a subsidiary of XAI, that includes a $3,460,000 contribution to widen and resurface State Line Road, and he argued the project could bring immediate job gains and long‑term revenue. “XAI just recently announced the purchase of the building formerly used by GXO at 2400 State Line Road,” the mayor said, calling the development a multi‑billion‑dollar investment that would provide job and tax benefits.

The mayor acknowledged the noise issues raised by residents, said the company installed a temporary sound wall that reduced some measurements and described plans for additional mitigation including a proposed berm and landscaping. He described the wall cost as about $7,000,000 and said the next mitigation step — a berm and evergreen landscaping — is projected at about $12,800,000. He also emphasized that MDEQ is the permitting authority and that the city has discussed standards and monitoring with the company.

Residents asked the board to hold a public town hall focused on health and environmental data; the mayor said the city will engage with MDEQ and the company and continue to provide updates. No new ordinance or formal regulatory action was taken at the meeting; the item on opting into medical cannabis dispensaries was untabled for discussion only and no vote to opt in occurred.

The board’s next procedural steps include continued coordination with MDEQ, further monitoring of noise levels, and handling any citizen petitions or formal requests for hearings that are submitted to the city.