Judge allows NAACP lawsuit alleging xAI data center pollution to proceed

Federal Judge Debra M. Brown rejected xAI’s request to dismiss an NAACP lawsuit accusing the SpaceX-owned company of operating at least 35 combustion turbines and other sources of pollution at its Colossus data center near Memphis without the required environmental permits. xAI argued that the turbines are mobile sources exempt from permitting and that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue; Brown rejected both arguments and ruled that the case can proceed under the U.S. Clean Air Act.

Abre’ Connor, the NAACP’s director of environmental and climate justice, called the ruling “another important victory” and said xAI cannot operate the turbines without the required permits. According to TechCrunch, a similar dismissal motion from the U.S. Department of Justice was also rejected earlier this month.