The NAACP has announced plans to sue Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, accusing the company of running dozens of natural-gas turbines at its South Memphis supercomputer complex without state or federal approval. Installed last year to power a facility said to require as much electricity as 100,000 homes, the generators have reportedly sent plumes of emissions into nearby neighborhoods, where the majority of residents are Black.
NAACP & SELC Announce 60-Day Notice to Sue xAI
Local advocates and the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents the NAACP, point to aerial photos showing more than 30 units still venting heat and exhaust. “We keep breathing this pollution while they flip the switch,” says Maria Jackson, who lives less than a mile from the site. She and her neighbors say the turbines came online before xAI had applied for air-quality or noise permits—and that asthma and other health issues have only grown since.
35+ Gas Turbines Powering “Colossus” Without Permits
In a statement, xAI insisted it “takes environmental responsibility very seriously” and that every generator meets or exceeds applicable standards. Still, neither regulators nor civil-rights groups understand why the company did not secure approvals ahead of time. The dispute highlights an ongoing tension in the tech sector: how to deliver ever-more powerful computing without repeating past mistakes of burdening vulnerable communities with pollution.
South Memphis Residents Bear the Brunt of Pollution
As data centers spread and their voracious energy needs climb, many operators turn to temporary gas-fired generators or short-term power deals—solutions that can skirt robust environmental review. “If we don’t plan properly, every new server farm becomes another industrial smokestack,” warns Dr. Aaron Patel of the nonprofit Energy for All.
xAI Asserts Compliance Amid Permit Questions
City leaders now hope the lawsuit will push xAI to pursue cleaner interim power—such as battery storage or renewable backup systems—while investing in ongoing air-quality monitoring. They also want guarantees that any future expansions include strict community engagement and health protections from day one.
Calls for Cleaner Backup Power and Monitoring
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, but Memphis residents say it shouldn’t come at the expense of their health. “We welcome progress,” Jackson says, “but not if it means trading our lungs for a data center.” As AI companies continue to grow, finding that balance between innovation and environmental justice will be critical—both for the planet and for the people who call these neighborhoods home.