Trump DOJ Moves to Kill NAACP xAI Suit Over 57 Turbines, Citing National Security
Updated
Updated · TPM · Jun 19
Trump DOJ Moves to Kill NAACP xAI Suit Over 57 Turbines, Citing National Security
3 articles · Updated · TPM · Jun 19
Summary
A DOJ motion filed Monday asks to intervene in the NAACP’s Clean Air Act case against xAI and dismiss it with prejudice, arguing the suit conflicts with federal policy and the public interest.
The department says xAI’s Colossus site powers Grok, an AI model used by the Defense Department, making enforcement against the plant a national security risk.
The NAACP sued two months ago to halt operation of xAI’s Southaven, Mississippi gas plant, alleging at least 57 house-sized turbines were built and run without required permits.
Those turbines could emit more than 5,300 tons of nitrogen oxides and 430 tons of particulate matter a year near nearly 160,000 residents within six miles, 77% of them people of color.
The filing sets up a broader legal fight over whether the Clean Air Act lets the federal government intervene in a citizen suit only to shut it down.
Can AI's immense energy needs be met without sacrificing clean air and public health?
When national security relies on AI, who decides the environmental price communities must pay?
Powering AI, Polluting Communities: The xAI Data Center Legal Showdown and Its National Implications
Overview
xAI's rapid expansion of its data center operations in Southaven, Mississippi, began with the 2025 acquisition of local properties by MZX Tech LLC, a company linked to xAI. This led to the development of the Colossus 2 data center, powered by 41 gas turbines. Environmental groups and the Southern Environmental Law Center warned that this would create one of the state's largest fossil fuel power plants, increasing pollution and health risks for nearby communities. The aggressive build-out sparked strong community opposition and legal challenges, highlighting the tension between technological growth, environmental protection, and public health.