NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center’ | TechCrunch
May 31, 2025 - techcrunch.com
The NAACP has urged local officials to cease operations at Elon Musk's xAI Colossus supercomputer facility in South Memphis, citing environmental and health concerns. In a letter to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water, the civil rights group criticized the operation of the facility, which reportedly runs 35 gas turbines without proper permits, emitting hazardous pollutants like formaldehyde and nitrogen-oxide beyond EPA limits. The NAACP highlighted the facility's proximity to the historically Black Boxtown neighborhood, arguing it exacerbates pollution in communities already facing elevated cancer risks.
The letter, addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor and other officials, calls for an emergency order to halt xAI's operations or at least enforce compliance with clean air laws. City officials previously stated that xAI did not require permits for the turbines' first year of use. The NAACP's concerns come as Taylor prepares to leave her role for a position in Baltimore. Memphis Light Gas and Water has not yet received the letter, and TechCrunch has reached out to both the NAACP and xAI for comments.
Key takeaways:
The NAACP is urging local officials to halt operations at Elon Musk's xAI Colossus facility in South Memphis due to environmental concerns.
The NAACP claims xAI has been operating more gas turbines than permitted, emitting pollutants exceeding EPA limits.
The Colossus facility's location near a historically Black community raises environmental justice concerns.
The NAACP's letter criticizes local authorities for not enforcing environmental regulations and allowing xAI to operate above the law.
