Justice Department backs xAI in NAACP lawsuit over data center pollution
Key takeaways
- The agency argues that x AI’s operations are integral to US military operations.
- Thrive Studios ID/Shutterstock The Department of Justice, along with the state of Mississippi, are asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit the NAACP filed against x AI in April.
- In its lawsuit, the NAACP accused xAI of operating 27 gas turbines without permission.
The agency argues that x AI’s operations are integral to US military operations.
Thrive Studios ID/Shutterstock The Department of Justice, along with the state of Mississippi, are asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit the NAACP filed against x AI in April. If you'll recall, the organization sued x AI for allegedly operating methane gas turbines to power its Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis without the proper permit. It later asked the court for an injunction to stop x AI from running the turbines, explaining that they increase "risks of asthma attacks and heart disease." According to Wired, the Justice Department has submitted a filing to the court, siding with Elon Musk's company and arguing that its operations are integral to US military operations, including the Iran War.
In its lawsuit, the NAACP accused xAI of operating 27 gas turbines without permission. Gas turbines are known to emit pollution, hazardous chemicals and fine particulate matter. Those are already concerning due to the data center's proximity to people's homes, but they're even more concerning when you consider that Memphis is one of the asthma capitals of the United States. It ranked second in terms of asthma-related visits to the emergency room back in 2024, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It's worth noting that while the lawsuit was for 27 gas turbines only, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) later obtained emails showing that xAI added even more turbines after the lawsuit was filed, bringing the total number to 57.