NAACP Sues Elon Musk’s xAI Over Alleged Pollution From Southern Data Centers

The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, accusing it of violating the Clean Air Act of 1970. The lawsuit, filed on April 14 in a Mississippi federal court, targets xAI’s “Colossus” and “Colossus II” data centers, which are said to power the company’s chatbot technology. According to the complaint, these facilities utilize dozens of unpermitted methane gas turbines that allegedly release harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, into nearby residential areas. The affected communities are primarily historically Black neighborhoods near the Tennessee-Mississippi border, specifically around Memphis, Tennessee, and Southaven. Residents have reported persistent noise and face heightened health risks such as asthma, respiratory illness, and cancer. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson stated that companies like xAI should not "set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits." Abre' Conner, the NAACP's director of environmental and climate justice, further criticized the company for allegedly evading clear air laws and asking "Black and frontline communities to bear the toxic brunt of 'innovation.'" The NAACP is seeking an injunction to halt the operation of the methane gas turbines, financial penalties, and a mandate for xAI to install the “best available control technology” to limit emissions if operations continue. xAI did not respond to The Guardian's request for comment regarding the allegations.