The lawsuit alleges that xAI’s practices may constitute environmental injustice and pose health risks to surrounding communities.
**Elon Musk’s xAI Faces Legal Backlash for Air Pollution Issues**
**Elon Musk’s xAI Faces Legal Backlash for Air Pollution Issues**
A lawsuit filed against xAI highlights environmental concerns linked to the company’s operation of gas turbines in Memphis.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, is in hot water following a lawsuit initiated by the NAACP over its air pollution practices related to a supercomputer facility in Memphis. According to the legal notice of intent to sue filed on Tuesday, xAI has installed dozens of natural-gas-burning turbines at its South Memphis data center, allegedly without required permits. The critics highlight that these turbines are contributing to poor air quality and affecting predominantly Black neighborhoods nearby.
Derrick Johnson, NAACP president, expressed strong concerns about the implications of such environmental injustices where affluent companies can operate polluting businesses in marginalized areas without oversight. "The reality is we cannot normalize this kind of environmental injustice," he stated, emphasizing the risks involved for local residents.
In response, xAI issued a statement asserting its commitment to the environment and the welfare of the surrounding community, claiming compliance with all applicable laws regarding the operations of its temporary power generation units. The company began its operations in a repurposed manufacturing facility last year, housing what Musk has touted as the largest supercomputer in the world.
When setting up the facility, xAI reportedly transported several gas-powered turbines to meet the energy demands that rival those of 100,000 homes. Legal representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Center, supporting the NAACP's claim, revealed aerial photographs that captured the 35 gas turbines active at the Memphis site, which were reportedly emitting significant amounts of heat and contributing to environmental degradation.
Derrick Johnson, NAACP president, expressed strong concerns about the implications of such environmental injustices where affluent companies can operate polluting businesses in marginalized areas without oversight. "The reality is we cannot normalize this kind of environmental injustice," he stated, emphasizing the risks involved for local residents.
In response, xAI issued a statement asserting its commitment to the environment and the welfare of the surrounding community, claiming compliance with all applicable laws regarding the operations of its temporary power generation units. The company began its operations in a repurposed manufacturing facility last year, housing what Musk has touted as the largest supercomputer in the world.
When setting up the facility, xAI reportedly transported several gas-powered turbines to meet the energy demands that rival those of 100,000 homes. Legal representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Center, supporting the NAACP's claim, revealed aerial photographs that captured the 35 gas turbines active at the Memphis site, which were reportedly emitting significant amounts of heat and contributing to environmental degradation.
