The NAACP recently announced plans to sue over air pollution in Black neighborhoods caused by Elon Musk’s AI company.
Last Tuesday, the NAACP sent a letter to Musk’s company, xAI, through the Southern Environmental Law Center. In the letter, the civil rights group accused him of violating federal law by installing multiple polluting methane gas turbines in Memphis without obtaining proper permits.
The letter was sent as a prerequisite and Notice of Intent to Sue under the Clean Air Act.
Since June 2024, the xAI company has operated out of South Memphis. Despite dozens of protests by the people, satellite images have found that 35 turbines were installed at the data center in March alone; three larger turbines have been installed after the removal of several smaller turbines.
Under local and federal laws, permits need to be obtained before usage of the gas turbines. However, thermal maps obtained in April have sourced copious amounts of heat emitting from the gas turbines, indicating that they are already running.
“xAI’s decision to install and operate dozens of polluting gas turbines without any permits or public oversight is a clear violation of the Clean Air Act,” said SELC Senior Attorney Patrick Anderson in a statement. “Over the last year, these turbines have pumped out pollution that threatens the health of Memphis families. This notice paves the way for a lawsuit that can hold xAI accountable for its unlawful refusal to get permits for its gas turbines.”
The gas turbines installed release hazardous levels of chemicals, including formaldehyde. The highly toxic gas is absorbed through the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract with some cases of absorption through skin. The colorless gas has been linked with increased rates of severe bronchitis or asthma, inflammation of the stomach, certain types of cancer and eczema.
The xAI company is reported to emit a total of 17.2 tons of formaldehyde on average across the 35 turbines; they previously stated they would operate only 15 turbines.
The gas turbines are being used to power the AI systems. AI has previously been found to consume thousands of megawatt hours of electricity, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Critics of the new technology highlight the hundred tons of carbon that are released into the ecosystem as a result, equating to the same carbon emissions of hundreds of households across the country. The rate is said to increase exponentially, reaching 10 times the current level by 2026. AI has also been found to impact the limited levels of freshwater resources available.
With all these effects, the presence of xAI is set to impact Black neighborhoods the most. The data center itself is located in South Memphis, a predominantly Black neighborhood. According to Data USA, Black citizens make up approximately 47% of the entire city.
“All too often, big corporations like xAI treat our communities and families like obstacles to be pushed aside,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in a statement.. “We cannot afford to normalize this kind of environmental injustice — where billion-dollar companies set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits and think they’ll get away with it because the people don’t have the power to fight back. We will not allow xAI to get away with this.”
