Elon Musk’s xAI faces lawsuit over Mississippi power plant tied to AI data centers
xAI is being sued by environmental groups in Mississippi over a planned gas-powered plant intended to support its AI data centers.Summary
Elon Musk’s xAI is facing a lawsuit from several environmental groups – including the NAACP, Young, Gifted & Green, and the Safe and Sound Coalition – in Mississippi regarding its plans to construct a large gas-powered plant to power its AI operations. The groups have petitioned state authorities to cancel the permit granted to xAI, arguing that the plant could negatively impact air quality and public health in the surrounding communities. They claim the plant, planned for Southaven, could increase pollution levels, worsen ozone levels, and raise emissions of harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, leading to serious health risks for residents.
The permit, issued in March by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, allows xAI to install 41 natural gas turbines in DeSoto County to power nearby AI data centers. xAI currently operates a data center in Memphis, Tennessee, and is expanding with a new facility in Southaven.
The environmental groups are also questioning the permit approval process, alleging inaccurate pollution estimates, a lack of requirement for the cleanest available technology, and insufficient community involvement. They argue the process was rushed and did not adhere to the standards of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) federal rule. The Mississippi regulator has acknowledged the request for a hearing and will allow xAI to participate in the process.
(Source：The Times Of India)