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NAACP Sues xAI for Operating Unpermitted Gas Turbines in Mississippi
The NAACP filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, accusing the company of Clean Air Act violations from emissions at its Southaven power plant. The suit seeks to halt operations of unpermitted turbines powering data centers in Memphis, Tennessee. xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apr 14, 7:12 PM·2m read2 sources
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U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. The lawsuit accuses xAI of violating the Clean Air Act due to emissions from its makeshift power plant in Southaven, Mississippi. The NAACP is represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice in the lawsuit.
xAI has been using dozens of methane gas generators without permits in Southaven, Mississippi. The power plant in Southaven powers xAI's data centers in south Memphis, Tennessee. xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, LLC installed and operated 27 gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, between August and December 2025.
The 27 gas turbines emit smog-forming pollutants and particulate matter. The NAACP seeks to force xAI to stop operating its unpermitted turbines in Southaven, Mississippi. The NAACP seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to require xAI to cease operating the Colossus Gas Plant until obtaining required permits.
The NAACP seeks to require xAI to apply necessary pollution controls.
The NAACP seeks civil penalties from xAI for each day of violation. xAI has been using natural gas-burning turbines for months at its facility in Southaven, Mississippi. xAI operates the Colossus 1 and Colossus 2 data centers in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Colossus 1 and Colossus 2 data centers are located just across the Mississippi state line from Southaven. Tens of thousands of people live, work, and study near xAI's power plant in Southaven, Mississippi. Hundreds of thousands of people live in greater Memphis.
xAI is planning to build a data center named Macrohardrr in Southaven, Mississippi.
xAI is building a permanent power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, that will use 41 natural gas-burning turbines. Mississippi state regulators granted a permit to xAI in March to build a power plant in Southaven with 41 permanent turbines. The NAACP wants Mississippi state regulators to revoke the permit granted to xAI in March.
