Elon Musk and his artificial intelligence company xAI have stepped in to provide crucial support to Tennessee residents grappling with extensive power outages. Governor Bill Lee announced that hundreds of generators have been donated to assist those affected by a severe winter storm that has left thousands without electricity for days amidst freezing temperatures.
Generators Provided to Aid Residents
The state of Tennessee experienced a historic winter storm late in January, resulting in power disruptions for hundreds of thousands of households. As of early February 2026, thousands of homes remained without power and heat, enduring conditions for up to nine days. In response to this crisis, Governor Bill Lee shared on X that Elon Musk and xAI have contributed hundreds of generators. “Tennesseans without power need immediate help. I’m deeply grateful to @elonmusk & @xAI for going above & beyond to support Tennesseans by donating hundreds of generators to fill the gap, & I value their continued partnership to solve problems & support communities across our state,” Lee stated in his post.
Recovery efforts are ongoing as crews work to restore power and address storm-related damage. The donated generators are intended to offer immediate, temporary relief to residents facing prolonged power losses during the ongoing freezing weather.
Additional Support from Tesla Planned
In a direct response to Governor Lee’s announcement, Elon Musk indicated that further assistance is being coordinated through Tesla. “You’re most welcome. We’re working on providing Tesla Powerwalls too,” Musk tweeted. This suggests that battery storage solutions from Tesla could soon be deployed to bolster support for affected communities.
Prior to Musk’s comment, Tesla had already initiated measures to help customers in Mississippi and Tennessee. The official Tesla Charging account confirmed on X that all Superchargers in both states are operational. To aid those impacted by persistent outages, free Supercharging has been enabled at various locations, including Grenada, Tupelo, Corinth, Southhaven, and Horn Lake in Mississippi, as well as several Supercharging sites in Memphis, Tennessee.
