NAACP and Environmental Group Challenge Elon Musk’s Xai Over Air Pollution

The NAACP, along with an environmental organization, is gearing up to take legal action against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, Xai, due to concerns that its supercomputer facility is contributing to air pollution in Memphis. This announcement came on Tuesday.

Representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Centre (SELC), acting on behalf of the NAACP, sent a letter to Xai and its affiliates notifying them of intentions to sue over the operation of a natural gas turbine in Southwest Memphis.

The NAACP highlights that the facility, which opened last June, is situated close to a predominantly black community in Memphis.

Anderson, a representative, noted that the turbines have been in violation of the Clean Air Act for the past year by emitting harmful pollutants into the air.

“The law is abundantly clear. Xai was required to obtain an air permit before they could install and operate a turbine at this facility,” Anderson stated at a press conference on Tuesday. “Last year, these turbines contributed to pollution that jeopardized the health of families in Memphis.”

Some local officials have alleged that an exemption allowed Xai to operate the turbine for up to 364 days without permission. However, Anderson contested this claim, asserting that there is no such exemption applicable to the turbine.

“We shouldn’t accept this kind of environmental injustice as normal. I mean, it’s concerning if businesses with billions can set up operations that pollute black neighborhoods without oversight, and just walk away because the community lacks the resources to challenge them,” Anderson expressed.

The NAACP has pointed out research indicating that Boxtown, the closest neighborhood to the Xai data center, faces a cancer risk four times higher than the national average.

A spokesperson for Xai responded, claiming that the company’s temporary power generation units “operate in compliance with all applicable laws” in light of the announcement.

“We are serious about our commitment to both our community and the environment,” the spokesperson added.

Xai also contends that its turbines are equipped with technology designed to reduce emissions and that their investments of billions of dollars in supercomputer facilities are benefiting the local economy.