SpaceX is taking a new step to solve an AI problem, that is power. Elon Musk says the company will make key gas turbine parts in Texas. But the move also brings forth a serious issues of pollution.
SpaceX moves into turbine parts
As reported by Benzinga, SpaceX is preparing a foundry in Bastrop, Texas. There, they will be manufacturing vanes and blades for large gas turbines. The company has been hiring engineers for the site. Jobs cover materials, automation, tooling and new production lines. The reason is simple. AI data centers need huge amounts of power. Getting new power from the grid can take too long. So, companies are looking for other ways to get electricity fast.
Musk says solar power will grow, but it will not be enough for the next few years. Natural gas will still be needed to support that plan. By making turbine parts inside the company, SpaceX hopes to cut a major delay in the supply chain. Musk said making of turbine blades and vanes could help natural gas turbines come online up to 18 months sooner. He called the move a โprofound game-changer.โ
SpaceX is in a race for more AI power
The turbine plan comes as demand for AI keeps rising. Large tech firms are building more data centers, and many are turning to natural gas to keep them running. The new SpaceX plan is aimed at a supply problem that is slowing the AI buildout. Only a small number of companies can make the advanced turbine parts needed for large power systems.
That shortage has made the parts hard to get. SpaceX is now trying to control more of the process itself. This fits a wider pattern in Musk’s companies, where making key parts in-house can give them more control over time and supply. The plan is not only about helping xAI. It could also support Musk’s wider AI goals. SpaceX has been spending heavily on AI infrastructure. The company spent $16 billion on AI infrastructure in the second quarter of 2026, according to Yahoo Finance. The Bastrop work also shows how the company is bringing energy needs into its own supply chain rather than waiting for outside suppliers.
Power boost comes with a cost
The biggest concern is the environmental impact. Gas turbines can produce air pollution, and some of Musk’s data center projects have already faced complaints. SpaceX has used gas turbines at its Colossus data centers in Memphis since 2024. The company has faced criticism over pollution and permits. The report also points to health concerns linked to pollutants from gas turbines.
This makes the plan more than a business story. SpaceX may help ease a major power bottleneck for AI, but faster gas turbine growth could also bring more pressure on air quality. For now, Musk is betting that speed matters. The company wants more power, more control and less waiting. How it handles the environmental side may decide how the plan is viewed.
Author’s Opinion
SpaceX’s plan is bold and easy to understand. AI needs power, and waiting for turbines is a problem. Making the parts itself may help. But speed should not push health and clean air into the background. Both issues deserve equal care.
READ MORE: OpenAI hits back at Apple in trade secrets showdown.
ALSO READ: Amazon faces $20 billion ad lawsuit in major FTC crackdown.
READ NEXT: SpaceX Dragon leak forces delay to NASA ISS mission.
