xAI Adds 19 New Gas Turbines Despite Ongoing Lawsuit

Emails obtained by WIRED reveal that xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, added 19 portable gas turbines to its Colossus 2 site in Southaven between late March and early May. This brings the total number of turbines operating at the site to 46, representing more than 500 megawatts of added power capacity. The expansion comes as xAI is already fighting a lawsuit filed by the NAACP and several environmental groups, which allege the company is violating the Clean Air Act by operating more than two dozen natural gas turbines without appropriate air permits. The lawsuit claims that eight of the new turbines, representing over 200 megawatts, were installed after the legal action was filed. The original site, Colossus 1, located in Memphis, Tennessee, has also faced criticism for operating gas turbines without a permit in a historically Black neighborhood. xAI has defended its actions, stating that the data centers powered by the turbines are essential for cutting-edge AI and government computing. The NAACP has filed for an emergency injunction to shut down the turbines at Colossus 2, arguing that the company is disregarding environmental and health concerns in Black communities.

(Source：Headtopics)