Justice Department may intervene in NAACP lawsuit over Elon Musk’s xAI’s turbines in Mississippi
By Katherine Lin | Originally published by Mississippi Today
The Department of Justice is considering intervening in the NAACP’s lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company over its operation of natural gas turbines in Southaven.
The DOJ has until June 15 to intervene.
The federal government’s interest comes as xAI considers going public this summer.
Last summer, xAI began bringing generators to Mississippi to power its data center operations in the area using temporary mobile turbines. Mississippi does not require air permits for mobile turbines that run for less than 12 months. But the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the NAACP, alleges that running the turbines without a permit violates the federal Clean Air Act.
The lawsuit asks the court to stop xAI’s turbine operations and to fine the company for its previous operations.
xAI has maintained the turbines are not a violation of the Clean Air Act.
In documents filed in the Northern District of Mississippi earlier this month, the DOJ wrote it is “evaluating potential intervention” in the lawsuit and asked the court to give it more time to evaluate the case.
The DOJ said it is interested in the case as it pertains to U.S. policies, citing the Clean Air Act and President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order protecting U.S. dominance in the AI sector.
“It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security,” the DOJ wrote in court filings. The department added that “artificial intelligence infrastructure” is a key priority for the U.S.
xAI’s method of self generating energy has allowed it to quickly scale up its data center operations in Southaven and Memphis. In SEC filings published this month, the company cited its “ability to construct power infrastructure at this scale and speed as a significant competitive advantage.”
Southaven residents who live close to the turbines have complained about the noise coming from the turbines and potential environmental impact to the area’s aquifer and air quality. xAI constructed a sound barrier around the turbines but residents say that it has had little impact.
xAI has continued to increase power generation on site, with over 40 mobile turbines now on site, up from 18 last summer. In addition, the company is working to bring permanent turbines on site. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality approved air permits for 41 permanent turbines at the site.
On Thursday, the court granted xAI an extension until June 15 to respond or file a motion to dismiss the suit. It gave the DOJ the same deadline to decide whether it will try to intervene in the case.
The Southern Environmental Law Center declined to comment on the litigation.
This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Source: Original Article
