NAACP Eyes Lawsuit Against xAI Over Mississippi Turbine Pollution

Civil rights and environmental groups have sent Elon Musk's xAI a 60-day notice of intent to sue over unpermitted gas turbines at its data center in Southaven, Mississippi. The groups say the 27 methane-fueled units violate the Clean Air Act by operating without air quality permits, pumping out pollutants into nearby neighborhoods.

Background

xAI set up shop in Southaven last year to build one of the world's biggest AI data centers. The company calls the site Colossus 2, part of a push to ramp up computing power to 2 gigawatts. That is enough juice to run a mid-sized city. To make it happen fast, xAI brought in those 27 turbines. Each one burns natural gas to generate electricity on the spot.

This is not the first time xAI has run into trouble like this. Just across the state line in Memphis, Tennessee, the company used up to 35 similar turbines for its first data center. Local groups complained, and xAI ended up getting permits for some or taking others out. Now, advocates see the Mississippi setup as the same playbook: install first, deal with rules later.

Southaven sits in DeSoto County, right in the Memphis metro area. The region already struggles with bad air. The American Lung Association gave DeSoto County a failing grade for ozone last year. Ozone comes from pollutants like nitrogen oxides, which these turbines spew out. Add formaldehyde and other chemicals, and you have a mix that can hurt lungs and make smog worse.

xAI announced a huge $20 billion investment in the area back in January. Leaders there welcomed the jobs and growth. But residents in nearby Black and low-income neighborhoods worry about breathing easier. These communities often end up downwind from industry.

Key Details

The notice comes from law firms Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice. They represent the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP and the national NAACP. Filed on Friday, it gives xAI 60 days to stop the violations or face a federal court lawsuit. That wait is required under the Clean Air Act.

Those 27 turbines can crank out 495 megawatts together. That matches the output of a full-sized power plant. Right now, they stand as the biggest source of nitrogen oxides in the 11-county Memphis area. xAI has applied for permits on 41 more permanent turbines, but the current ones have none.

Turbine Operations and Emissions

Workers installed the turbines and fired them up without waiting for approval from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality or the EPA. The units run on methane gas and belch out nitrogen oxides, which help form ground-level ozone. Ozone irritates lungs and worsens asthma. Formaldehyde, another emission, is a known carcinogen.

Local air monitors already show high pollution levels. With Colossus 2 expanding, groups fear it will tip the area into non-attainment status under federal clean air rules. That could mean stricter controls on all local industry and higher costs passed to ratepayers.

xAI says the turbines fill a gap while the grid catches up. Building massive data centers takes huge power, and utilities struggle to supply it quick. The company has not commented on the notice yet.

"Our communities are not playgrounds for corporations who are chasing profit over people," said Abre’ Conner, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP. "This illegal pollution only exacerbates complications to frontline communities who continue to bear the brunt of environmental injustice."

"xAI is breaking the law while leaving local communities to deal with the consequences," said Patrick Anderson, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. "We plan to take them to court."

What This Means

If the lawsuit goes forward, it could slow xAI's growth in Mississippi. Courts have hit polluters with fines and orders to shut down before. xAI might have to remove the turbines or install costly controls like scrubbers to cut emissions.

The case spotlights the bigger clash between AI boom and clean air rules. Tech giants race to build data centers for training models like Grok. Each one guzzles power equal to tens of thousands of homes. Gas turbines offer a quick fix, but they sidestep long-term planning for renewables or grid upgrades.

Local leaders face a bind. xAI promises thousands of jobs and tax money for schools and roads. DeSoto County approved big incentives to lure the company. But health costs from dirty air fall on residents, especially those with less access to care.

Other AI firms watch closely. Similar fights brew in Virginia and Texas, where data centers lean on temporary generators. A win for the NAACP could set rules for the industry: get permits first, or pay the price.

For Southaven families, the wait stretches on. Kids play outside amid the hum of turbines. Parents track air quality apps. The notice marks a line in the sand, but real change depends on what xAI does next—and what a judge might say if it comes to that.

The 60-day clock ticks down. xAI could negotiate fixes, apply for retroactive permits, or fight back in court. Groups like the NAACP plan to push either way. They want the turbines off or cleaned up before more expansion hits.

Mississippi's environmental agency reviews xAI's new permit applications now. Approval is no sure thing, given the notice. Federal EPA oversight adds another layer. All eyes stay on Southaven, where AI dreams meet real-world air.