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NAACP Files Intent to Sue Elon Musk’s xAI Over Colossus Supercomputer Pollution, Gas Turbine Permits in Memphis

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Updated Jul 3, 2025, 04:57 PM

The NAACP, alongside environmental groups including the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), has filed an intent to sue Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, over air pollution concerns linked to its Colossus supercomputer data center in Memphis, Tennessee. The lawsuit alleges that xAI operated dozens of natural gas turbines, with a combined capacity exceeding 400 megawatts, without the required permits for nearly a year, violating the Clean Air Act. The turbines are reported to emit pollutants affecting predominantly Black neighborhoods near the facility, raising health concerns among residents and activists. Despite these allegations, the Shelby County Health Department has granted xAI a permit to operate 15 gas turbines at the Memphis site until 2027.

The permit issuance has not alleviated community fears, as local air quality tests have yielded mixed reactions, with some city-conducted assessments indicating no immediate danger, while activists remain skeptical. The controversy has drawn attention to the environmental and public health impacts of large-scale AI data centers, with critics highlighting increased asthma rates and accusing xAI of bypassing community input during the facility's development. The legal and environmental dispute continues amid ongoing debates about the balance between technological advancement and environmental justice in Memphis.

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