The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI of breaking federal air-pollution rules.

The complaint aims to halt what the group says are unpermitted gas turbines that are sending harmful emissions throughout the Memphis area, The Guardian reported.

The lawsuit lodged in the Mississippi federal court centers on equipment in Southaven, Mississippi, used to supply electricity to xAI’s local data center footprint. The NAACP is working with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Earthjustice on the suit.

NAACP To Judge: ‘No More Turbines’

In the filing, the NAACP argues xAI’s setup amounts to an illegal operation under the Clean Air Act, alleging dozens of methane-fueled generators were run without the required permits. The group is asking a judge to order the company to stop using the turbines it says lack authorization.

xAI operates two facilities in the area known as Colossus and Colossus II, with Colossus II described as a roughly 1 million-square-foot site in Southaven. The lawsuit claims xAI installed and used as many as 27 gas turbines at the Southaven site, describing each unit as comparable in size to a bus. It also alleges the Southaven facility could produce more than 1,700 tons of nitrogen oxides annually, along with other toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.

“A data center should not be a potential death sentence for a community’s health. By looking to evade clear air laws to operate dirty turbines that emit pollution and known carcinogens, these companies are following a shameful, familiar pattern: asking Black and frontline communities to bear the toxic brunt of ‘innovation,’” Abre’ Conner, NAACP Director of Environmental and Climate Justice, said in a statement posted on the NAACP website.

“As we shared since xAI started operating in Memphis, our homes, churches, and playgrounds will not be sacrifice zones for Big Tech’s convenience. The NAACP stands firm that true progress cannot be built by ignoring community health and our environment. Our right to clean air is not up for negotiation, especially when companies prove expediency, not people is their priority.” 

Benzinga reached out to xAI for a comment.

SpaceX, which Musk also owns and runs, officially merged with xAI in February. The combined entity is preparing for a potential IPO, targeting a valuation of over $1 trillion

NAACP: xAI Violated ‘Clean Air Act’

The NAACP wants a court declaration that the Clean Air Act was violated, an order requiring the “best available control technology on the power plant,” and monetary penalties tied to each day of alleged noncompliance. 

Last June, the SELC sent a letter to xAI on behalf of the NAACP, warning of potential legal action, alleging the same issues that were raised in this current lawsuit. The letter raised serious concerns that Memphis already ranked among the areas with the poorest air quality in the region.

This is not the first time xAI has faced allegations of environmental violations. 

Last May, the company was accused of operating unpermitted gas turbines at a major data center in Memphis. The situation raised concerns over public health and potential violations of federal and local environmental laws.

Environmental concerns surrounding data centers are not unique to xAI. 

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