xAI gets permits for 15 natural gas generators at Memphis data center

In a significant move, regulators in Shelby County have approved xAI's application to operate 15 natural gas turbines at its data center located near Memphis. This decision comes despite looming threats of legal action from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which claims that Elon Musk's AI firm has been running up to 35 generators without the necessary permits. The newly sanctioned turbines are capable of generating up to 247 megawatts of electricity, a portion of the total 421 megawatts that the unpermitted generators could produce. The SELC has announced plans to sue on behalf of the NAACP, citing violations of the Clean Air Act. The permit issued by the Shelby County Health Department mandates that xAI employ specific emissions controls. However, the company has previously operated eight of the Solar SMT-130 generators without permits, though reports suggest these units are equipped with proper pollution controls. Under the conditions outlined in the permit, xAI is still permitted to emit substantial pollution levels over a rolling 12-month period. This includes emissions of 87 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx), 94 tons of carbon monoxide, and 85 tons of volatile organic compounds, alongside nearly 14 tons of hazardous air pollutants, including 9.8 tons of formaldehyde, a substance known to be a carcinogen. The firm is responsible for maintaining its own emissions records, raising concerns among local community groups. One such group has allocated $250,000 to fund an independent air quality study, highlighting the community's proactive approach to monitoring potential environmental impacts. While the City of Memphis conducted air quality tests in June, the SELC has criticized the methodology, asserting that key measures, such as ozone levels, were overlooked. Additionally, the testing took place on days when wind conditions would disperse xAI's emissions away from the nearest testing sites, potentially skewing results. Historically, the health department had claimed it lacked the jurisdiction to permit 'mobile' gas-burning turbines operating for less than 364 days, arguing that such cases fell under the EPA's domain. The SELC countered this interpretation, labeling it as flawed and lacking proper legal justification.