Judge says xAI must face NAACP lawsuit on data center pollution
The legal battle revolves around the AI company's operations in southern Memphis.
US District Judge Debra M. Brown has ruled that AI company xAI must face a lawsuit filed by the NAACP over alleged data center pollution in Memphis, Tennessee. The NAACP claims that xAI's use of unpermitted methane gas turbines to power its data centers is violating the Clean Air Act. Despite xAI's request to dismiss the lawsuit, supported by the Justice Department, the judge denied the request, stating that the power plant where the turbines are located is not mobile and thus subject to the permitting process.
This decision comes as AI companies continue to expand their data center operations, raising concerns among local communities.
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