DOJ says it might help Musk in lawsuit over AI pollution
The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have sued Elon Musk's xAI over its Colossus 2 data center in Southaven, Mississippi, alleging it operates 27 natural gas turbines without proper pollution controls or Clean Air Act permits. The Department of Justice is considering intervening in the lawsuit, citing the Trump administration's policy to promote AI infrastructure.
The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center have initiated legal action against xAI, an artificial intelligence company owned by Elon Musk, concerning its Colossus 2 data center in Southaven, Mississippi. The lawsuit, filed in April, accuses xAI of operating 27 natural gas turbines to power the facility without necessary pollution controls or Clean Air Act permits. The environmental groups have also sought a preliminary injunction to halt the alleged pollution from these generators, described as tractor-trailer-sized.
Adding another layer to the case, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its consideration of intervening in the lawsuit. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson indicated in a court filing to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi that the federal government is "evaluating possible intervention or amicus participation." The potential involvement stems from the Trump administration's stated policy to expand artificial intelligence, with Gustafson emphasizing the nation's "substantial interest" in promoting AI infrastructure for "human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security."