Memphis, TN — After months of protests from local residents and environmental groups, xAI—Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company—has secured an air permit for its Colossus supercomputer data center in Memphis. However, critics argue the permit fails to address ongoing pollution risks for nearby predominantly Black communities, who already suffer from some of the worst air quality in the nation.
What the Permit Allows—And What It Doesn’t
The Shelby County Health Department approved the permit on Wednesday, allowing xAI to operate 15 methane gas turbines under strict emissions controls. Key conditions include:
- Installation of “Best Available Control Technology” (BACT) by September 1, 2025.
- Semiannual emissions reporting, with the first due by December 31, 2025.
- Limits on visible pollution (no more than 20% opacity for extended periods).
- Restrictions on turbine startups/shutdowns (max 22 per year, totaling 110 hours annually).
The permit expires on January 2, 2027, and violations could trigger EPA or county enforcement.
Community Outrage: “A Stark Reminder That Health Comes Second”
Despite the new rules, activists say the permit ignores critical issues:
Unpermitted Turbines Still Operating
- Thermal imaging from July 1, 2025, shows 24 turbines on-site—nine more than the permit covers.
- Residents allege xAI has been running turbines without BACT for over a year, exposing nearby neighborhoods to smog-forming pollutants linked to asthma, heart disease, and cancer.
Historic Environmental Injustice
- South Memphis’ Boxtown neighborhood—where the facility is located—already suffers cancer risks four times the national average and fails to meet federal smog standards.
- The NAACP threatened legal action in June, demanding xAI address pollution concerns.
KeShaun Pearson (Memphis Community Against Pollution):
“We are devastated by the health department’s failure to protect us. Our leaders are allowing corporations to violate our right to clean air.”
Amanda Garcia (Southern Environmental Law Center):
“The county is turning a blind eye to Clean Air Act violations, letting another polluter harm an overburdened community.”
xAI’s Expansion Plans Raise New Fears
The controversy comes as xAI plans a second data center in Memphis’ Whitehaven neighborhood. Critics demand transparency:
- How will the new facility be powered?.
- Will it also rely on unregulated gas turbines?.
What’s Next?
- The SELC and local groups are evaluating legal options.
- xAI must now report emissions data, but activists vow to keep monitoring operations.
- The health department and xAI did not respond to requests for comment.
