Elon Musk, the world’s most famous EV pioneer behind Tesla, is now leaning into fossil fuels. Last week, SpaceX disclosed plans to build a natural gas plant in Grimes County, Texas, to power a new chip manufacturing facility. This marks a notable shift for Musk, whose electric-vehicle leadership helped make him the richest person on earth.

At other company campuses in Tennessee and Mississippi, Musk is already relying on dozens of gas turbines to run data centers that train the artificial intelligence at the core of his business plan. Earlier this year, Musk even bought a gas-turbine manufacturer as a personal investment, according to regulatory disclosures.

The move highlights the tension between Musk’s green reputation and the huge energy demands of AI and chip production. While Tesla pushes electric cars, Musk’s other ventures are turning to natural gas for reliable, round-the-clock power. The Texas plant is expected to support SpaceX’s expansion into advanced chipmaking, further tying the billionaire’s empire to fossil fuels.