New updates have been reported about xAI (PC:XAIIQ)
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xAI is currently embroiled in legal challenges concerning its Colossus data center located near Memphis, following allegations of operating natural gas turbines without the necessary permits. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing the NAACP, has issued a formal notice of intent to sue xAI for purported violations of the Clean Air Act. This notice is a precursor to a lawsuit, required to be filed 60 days after such a notification. The SELC claims that xAI has installed and operated at least 35 combustion turbines, potentially emitting over 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides annually, a significant contributor to smog and poor air quality.
The situation is exacerbated by Memphis’s existing air quality issues, with the city being labeled an asthma capital due to high rates of asthma-related emergencies and fatalities. Despite the Shelby County Health Department initially suggesting that xAI’s turbines were exempt from permitting, SELC’s investigations, including aerial photography, revealed extensive turbine operations at the site. Although xAI has begun removing some turbines, with plans to retain a portion as backup power sources until a new substation is completed, recent observations indicate that 26 turbines remain active. This ongoing legal and environmental scrutiny could have significant implications for xAI’s operations and its compliance with federal and local environmental regulations.