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NAACP Challenges xAI’s Gas Turbine Operations in Memphis

Industrial gas turbines powering a facility in Memphis, surrounded by residential homes.

News Summary

The NAACP is demanding immediate action against xAI’s Colossus facility due to environmental concerns over gas turbines operating without permits. Allegations highlight potential health risks for neighboring residents, particularly in South Memphis, an area with high cancer rates. While xAI defends its operations, city officials may also be under scrutiny for ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The situation underscores critical issues of environmental justice as the community advocates for protection against industrial emissions.

Memphis – The NAACP has called for immediate action against xAI’s Colossus facility in Memphis due to environmental concerns, specifically regarding the operation of gas turbines that allegedly endanger nearby residents. A letter sent to Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW) and the Shelby County Health Department on May 29, 2025, pointed out that xAI is operating gas turbines without the necessary permits, raising alarms about potential health risks in the surrounding community.

The NAACP claims that MLGW and the county health department have overlooked the dangers associated with the gas turbines that power the Colossus supercomputer. Despite the serious nature of these allegations, MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen has categorically dismissed the NAACP’s assertions, calling them “patently false.” McGowen noted that MLGW does not have the authority to approve gas turbine operations and emphasized that an environmental impact study had been conducted for the xAI facility.

City officials had previously suggested that the number of gas turbines at xAI was lower than what environmental advocacy groups claim. In a related development, the local Chamber of Commerce announced on May 6 that the gas turbines would undergo decommissioning. Chamber President Ted Townsend further confirmed that xAI is operating within permitted parameters, in contrast to NAACP allegations.

The NAACP’s complaint underscores substantial health concerns in South Memphis, particularly in the Boxtown neighborhood, which is primarily occupied by Black residents. This area reportedly has cancer rates that are four times higher than the national average. According to the NAACP, xAI has been running at least 35 gas turbines over the past year without proper permissions, although municipal officials indicated that permits may not have been required during the facility’s first year of operation.

The emissions from these turbines have been highlighted as a significant concern, with reports suggesting that they emit formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide at levels exceeding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits. In response, the NAACP is demanding an emergency order to either suspend xAI’s operations or issue citations for violations of clean air standards.

The Colossus facility, launched in September 2024, has been dubbed the world’s largest supercomputer, primarily designed for training the Grok chatbot. The advanced technology that xAI brings to Memphis is facing scrutiny, with the NAACP advocating for the prioritization of community health and environmental safety over technological advancements.

This controversy has attracted national attention and highlights broader issues of environmental justice in relation to high-tech development initiatives near communities of color. Activists in the area are urging greater accountability from xAI and local governmental authorities to ensure that the health and wellbeing of nearby residents are not compromised in the name of technological progress.

As of the publication of this article, neither xAI nor the Shelby County Health Department has responded to the NAACP’s letter, leaving many residents and activists concerned about the potential health implications of the gas turbine operations. The community remains vigilant, aiming to ensure that their health and environmental rights are upheld amid ongoing developments in the tech industry.