TechCrunch Startup News NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI’s ‘dirty data center’
Jun 4, 2025
A prominent civil rights group is urging Memphis officials to shut down a supercomputer facility operated by xAI, citing serious environmental health concerns. The NAACP's letter criticizes local agencies for their slow response to potential pollution threats. This brings attention to the potential dangers posed by gas turbine emissions, particularly to marginalized communities. The discussion highlights a significant conflict between advancing technology and the need for robust environmental protection.
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NAACP Highlights Environmental Injustice
- The NAACP accuses xAI of operating unpermitted gas turbines emitting hazardous pollutants in a historically black South Memphis neighborhood.
- This situation reflects the persistent environmental injustice burdening marginalized communities with pollution without accountability.
Permitting Laxity Endangers Health
- Authorities allowed xAI to run at least 35 gas turbines without proper permits despite hazardous emissions.
- The area already has cancer risks four times the national average, exacerbated by lax enforcement of air quality laws.
Health Department Leadership Change Looms
- The NAACP addressed local health and utility officials demanding a halt to xAI’s operations or enforcement of clean air laws.
- A key health department official is departing soon, creating potential shifts in oversight of these issues.