The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI, alleging it is illegally emitting toxic pollutants from its data centre in Southaven, Mississippi, affecting nearby residential areas, including historically Black communities. The suit, filed on Tuesday in Mississippi federal court, claims xAI violated the Clean Air Act by operating up to 27 unpermitted methane gas turbines at its Colossus II facility.
The organisation, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, seeks to halt the operation of these turbines, which it says release over 1,700 tons of nitrogen oxides annually, along with carcinogens like formaldehyde. The NAACP argues that Black neighbourhoods in the Memphis area, already burdened with higher asthma rates and lower life expectancy, face disproportionate health risks from the pollution.
xAI's Colossus II data centre occupies 1 million square feet in Southaven. The company's first facility, Colossus, located in Memphis's industrial zone, also faces a pending NAACP lawsuit over similar emissions. Aerial photographs show the number of generators at Colossus grew from 18 in 2024 to at least 36 by April 2025, though xAI later obtained permits for 15.
In March 2025, Mississippi regulators approved a permit for 41 permanent turbines in Southaven, but the NAACP says xAI is illegally operating 27 without air permits and is asking the court to revoke that permit. The lawsuit demands the installation of best available control technology and financial penalties for each day of violation.
Community opposition has been strong, with protests and public forums held against the pollution. 'A data centre should not be a potential death sentence for a community's health,' said Abre' Conner, NAACP director of environmental and climate justice. xAI is also planning another data centre in Southaven, named Macrohardrr, expected to use gas-burning turbines.
