A coalition led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) plans to sue Elon Musk’s AI company for allegedly running gas turbines at its Memphis data center without required air permits.
Neil Strebig and Jacob Wilt report for USA TODAY.
In short:
- The NAACP and SELC allege that xAI operated 26 gas turbines without pre-construction or operating permits, in violation of the Clean Air Act.
- The turbines have reportedly emitted over 1,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, making xAI one of the largest industrial NOx sources in Shelby County.
- Residents and local advocates have staged public protests, accusing xAI of environmental racism and calling for a shutdown of the facility in South Memphis.
Key quote:
“We cannot afford to normalize this kind of environmental injustice — where billion-dollar companies set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits and think they’ll get away with it because the people don’t have the power to fight back.”
— Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP
Why this matters:
Data centers power the digital economy, but their physical footprint has real-world consequences. In Memphis, that reality means natural gas turbines pumping pollution into predominantly Black neighborhoods. Nitrogen oxides — emitted by gas turbines — can worsen asthma, trigger respiratory problems, and contribute to smog. The situation also raises questions about environmental justice and regulatory oversight. Shelby County officials claim a temporary use exemption applies, but legal advocates argue that xAI’s operations go beyond that. The company says it complies with the law, yet it still lacks final permits. Meanwhile, protestors point to rising health complaints in the area, drawing parallels to past environmental crises.
Read more: Elon Musk’s AI firm running unpermitted gas generators near Memphis neighborhoods
