The NAACP and environmental organizations asked a judge Wednesday to order Elon Musk’s xAI Corp. to stop operating dozens of natural gas turbines powering a Memphis-area data center project until it has permits and “pollution controls” to protect locals.

In their request for a preliminary injunction, the NAACP said the gas plant is not a “mobile” power source and is actually a “stationary” one, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Collectively, the turbines could power a city and individually, they’re 200,000 pounds and over 100 feet long each, the plaintiffs allege, arguing “there is nothing ‘mobile’ about the” plant.

The company could say the plant is “temporary” and that it already has a permit to build a 41-turbine gas plant, the NAACP said, but the organization argues that “intentions aren’t grounds for an exemption” and that the permit in question is for a facility that hasn’t been constructed.

“Defendants’ impatience is paid for by NAACP and NAACP MS members who live near the Colossus Gas Plant,” the NAACP alleges. “Members are now losing sleep, spending less time in gardens, hosting family less often, and worrying about the pollution aggravating their respiratory conditions.”

The NAACP argues the pollution could raise the risks of heart disease and asthma attacks for communities close by, and that the company is “irreparably” harming the well-being of Black residents.

xAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiffs sued xAI in mid-April, alleging the company violated the Clean Air Act.

In their motion filed Wednesday, the NAACP alleges xAI initially had 27 turbines and then added six more by April 14, which it argues “would require an air pollution permit all by itself.” The company, however, still didn’t obtain one, it alleges.

Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center are representing the NAACP.

Earthjustice has received funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the charitable organization founded by Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg Law is operated by entities controlled by Michael Bloomberg.

The case is NAACP v. xAI Corp., N.D. Miss., No. 3:26-cv-00074, motion filed 5/6/26.