Whitehouse probes xAI data center pollution

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI. Whitehouse is probing allegations that xAI has been operating data centers in the Memphis, Tennessee area, and potentially in Mississippi, without obtaining the required energy permits. The senator formally requested this week that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigate xAI's Memphis-area data center complex and take enforcement actions if the company continues to circumvent established permitting processes during its expansion. Whitehouse also sought information regarding any collaborative efforts between the EPA and xAI. xAI, known for its Grok chatbot, has previously faced litigation for deploying high-polluting gas turbines in the region without undergoing the necessary permitting. Senator Whitehouse emphasized that xAI's strategy of installing turbines first and then seeking permits is "clearly illegal," asserting that while the state of Mississippi is primarily responsible for issuing federal permits, the EPA retains its enforcement authority and a duty to act when states fail to do so.