NAACP Sues Musk's xAI, Alleging Illegal Operation of Gas Turbines in Mississippi

The largest US civil rights group on Tuesday sued xAI and a subsidiary, alleging they illegally operated more than two dozen gas turbines in Mississippi to power its Colossus 2 data centre, posing a health risk to local residents.

The NAACP, represented by Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, sued xAI and subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging they violated the federal Clean Air Act by running 27 gas-fired turbines before obtaining the necessary air permits for its massive data centre that powers xAI’s Grok chatbot.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence start-up xAI has invested more than $20 billion to build the data centre in Southaven, with the full backing of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. However, the facility, as well as Colossus 1 just over the border in Memphis, Tennessee, has faced strong opposition from local communities over its impact on air quality and the environment.

“By looking to evade clean air laws to operate dirty turbines that emit pollution and known carcinogens, these companies are following a shameful, familiar pattern: asking Black and frontline communities to bear the toxic brunt of ‘innovation’,” said Abre’ Conner, director of the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP.

The NAACP announced its intention to sue xAI and MZX in February, as the Clean Air Act requires 60 days’ notice before filing a lawsuit.

Mississippi regulators held a public hearing that month on permits for the turbines after only a few days’ notice, and subsequently approved the permits.

xAI was not immediately available for comment.

Earthjustice said that xAI’s Southaven power plant has the potential to emit more than 1,700 tonnes of smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) each year, a major contributor to smog in the greater Memphis area. It is also estimated to emit 180 tonnes of fine particulate matter, 500 tonnes of carbon monoxide, and 19 tonnes of cancer-causing formaldehyde.

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