Mississippi holds hearings on xAI Data Center amid Environmental Lawsuit Threat

Mississippi regulators are hosting a public meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans xAI, owned by Elon Musk, has made to build a gas fired power plant?to run its Colossus II Data Center. The company is facing a 'lawsuit threat from the 'NAACP accusing them of violating federal laws if they install and operate gas turbines - without air permits.

The civil rights group acting on behalf of a largely African American community near the existing Colossus I plant in Memphis, Tennessee said xAI started illegally installing and operating 27 gas turbines in Southaven in Mississippi in order to power Colossus 'II', located across the state border in Memphis.

The Clean Air Act requires that preconstruction and operating air permits be obtained.

AIR QUALITY

The NAACP stated in a 'letter' that it intends to sue xAI, "Pollution is increasing from these turbines and will continue to worsen Southaven in Mississippi as well as the Memphis metropolitan region."

xAI did not respond to a request for comment immediately.

The NAACP stated that the turbines could emit significant amounts of nitrogen oxides, which can cause smog, above the Clean Air Act "major sources" threshold. They also said they would likely emit other pollutants, such as fine particulate and cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Clean Air Act requires that plaintiffs notify their intention to sue at least 60 days before the court date.

xAI is building a Colossus supercomputer that will be used to train Grok AI, the company's chatbot in Memphis. The company is in phase 2, and hopes to start a third phase as soon as possible.

The Southern Environmental Law Center (which represents the 'NAACP' in this newest lawsuit threat) filed an intent to file xAI for 35 turbines that were not permitted at the Colossus 1 Site. After the xAI?company filed a suit in 2024, it removed 20 turbines, and obtained permits for 15 of the remaining turbines.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is holding a public hearing on the project. SELC has said that the project will be the biggest 'new source of pollution around Memphis for years.

The DEQ stated that xAI had submitted permit applications for 41 turbines permanent at the site. xAI will operate a number temporary turbines during the review of the applications. (Reporting and editing by David Holmes; Valerie Volcovici)

(source: Reuters)