NAACP sues xAI over unpermitted gas turbines at AI data center

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against xAI and subsidiary MZX Tech for allegedly operating unpermitted methane gas turbines to power the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis. The civil rights organization is asking a federal court to declare that xAI violated the Clean Air Act and to force the company to stop using the turbines. The lawsuit claims xAI. the Elon Musk-founded AI startup now owned by SpaceX. operates 27 gas turbines without an air permit to power Colossus 2, one of several data centers xAI uses to train its Grok AI assistant. Gas turbines expel pollution, hazardous chemicals, and fine particulate matter linked to heart problems, respiratory diseases, and certain cancers, with the facility located near residential areas. The NAACP, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, sent xAI a 60-day notice of intent to sue in compliance with the Clean Air Act before filing the lawsuit. "xAI's continued operation of these turbines without a permit and without adequate pollution controls is not only illegal, it's an insult to families living nearby," said Ben Grillot, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. AI companies frequently need to generate power for data centers housing components that train and run AI models. While Oracle reportedly uses gas generators like xAI, Google, Meta, and Amazon have invested in or signed deals with nuclear energy providers. The Trump administration's latest AI framework proposal largely ignored environmental impacts in favor of streamlining permitting for on-site energy generators.