Elon Musk Accused Of ‘Environmental Racism’ After Building AI Supercomputer In A Now ‘Noxious’ Black Neighborhood

Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer facility in Memphis has ignited a fierce environmental justice battle, with residents and civil rights groups accusing the tech magnate of perpetuating ‘environmental racism’ by situating and operating a massive AI data centre that allegedly pollutes predominantly Black neighbourhoods without adequate oversight.

In the industrial corridor of South Memphis, the tension that once lay dormant over decades of air quality woes has erupted into legal threats and community-led protests. The controversy centres on xAI’s Colossus facility and its use of methane-powered gas turbines, which critics say release hazardous emissions in neighbourhoods already burdened by smog, asthma and cancer risks.

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of the NAACP, formally notified xAI of its intent to sue under the Clean Air Act for operating dozens of unpermitted methane gas turbines at the Colossus site in South Memphis. The letter obtained by SELC states that xAI installed and operated these turbines without required permits or the ‘best available pollution controls’, potentially violating both federal and local air quality laws.

According to the SELC’s notice of intent, a legal prerequisite to litigation, aerial and thermal imaging showed at least 35 turbines running ‘significant amounts of heat,’ implying they were actively operating without approvals. The turbines emit smog-forming pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde, which are linked to respiratory illnesses, cancer risk and cardiovascular problems.

The Shelby County Health Department went on to issue an air permit in July 2025 allowing xAI to operate 15 gas turbines at the site. However, community groups say this still ignores that numerous other turbines remain onsite and operational without permits or adequate emissions control requirements.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in the SELC-backed press release that such operations ‘treat our communities and families like obstacles to be pushed aside’ and emphasised the need for accountability when billion-dollar companies establish pollution sources in Black neighbourhoods with already elevated environmental risks.