Elon Musk Buys APR Energy to Power AI Data Centers

Elon Musk acquired the Jacksonville-based gas turbine provider APR Energy in May 2026 for approximately $1 billion on behalf of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. The purchase provides SpaceX with a fleet of mobile gas and diesel turbines mounted on trailers, which are being deployed to ensure power stability for AI data centers.

SpaceX is utilizing 59 of these mobile units at the Colossus II facility on the Tennessee-Mississippi border to avoid grid disruptions. This operational shift has triggered legal disputes with Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, who allege that the use of these turbines violates the Clean Air Act by bypassing mandatory air-permitting rules.

Despite the environmental litigation, the United States Department of Justice and Department of Defense have argued against shutting down the power units. Federal officials cite national security concerns, noting that the military relies on the Grok AI system hosted at the facility.