SELC appeals xAI's permit for 41 gas turbines at Southaven data center

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has filed an appeal challenging a permit issued by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for Elon Musk's company, xAI. The permit would allow xAI to operate 41 gas turbines at its new data center facility located in Southaven, Mississippi. According to the SELC, which is acting on behalf of several groups including the NAACP, the permit was issued unlawfully and violates state law, specifically citing the Clean Air Act. This action comes after the MDEQ granted the permit despite significant pushback from local activists and community requests to extend the deadline for public input, citing the complexity of the issue and the impact of a severe winter storm. Following the MDEQ's decision, a Harvard University professor presented research to the Southaven community, highlighting that xAI's facility is projected to generate particles linked to serious health concerns. Residents have voiced deep apprehension regarding the potential degradation of air and water quality in the area. The NAACP has also released a statement, expressing its consistent challenge to the MDEQ's perceived lack of transparency and standing in solidarity with residents in the region who are impacted by this decision.