Memphis, Tennessee — The NAACP is urging local authorities to cease operations at Colossus, a supercomputer facility operated by Elon Musk’s xAI in South Memphis. The civil rights organization has expressed significant alarm over the facility’s environmental impact, citing potential violations of air quality regulations.

In a letter addressed to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water, NAACP leaders criticized what they described as a lax regulatory approach toward the data center. They called for an immediate halt to operations at Colossus or, at the very least, for enforcement actions to be taken against xAI for alleged violations of clean air laws.

A central concern highlighted in the letter is the gas turbines that power the facility. According to the NAACP, xAI has been permitted to operate 15 gas turbines, but they accused the company of running at least 35 turbines without the necessary permits over the past year. Although city officials previously stated that no permits were required for the initial year of operation, the NAACP maintains that this oversight poses a significant environmental risk.

The report indicates that the turbines have been emitting hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels that exceed Environmental Protection Agency standards. The NAACP also raised alarm over the emissions of nitrogen oxides from the turbines, which are known to contribute to air quality deterioration.

The Colossus facility is situated near the Boxtown neighborhood, a historically Black community in South Memphis. The NAACP emphasized that this location underscores a troubling trend where industrial facilities add pollutants to communities that are not responsible for the environmental issues they face.

“Instead of prioritizing the health concerns in a region already grappling with cancer risks that are four times higher than the national average, the Shelby County Health Department has allowed xAI to operate without adequate regulatory oversight,” the letter asserted.

The NAACP’s letter was directed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor and the commissioners of Memphis Light Gas and Water. Taylor is set to leave her position to take a new role as commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department.

While inquiries have been sent to both the NAACP and xAI for their responses, a spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water noted that the department had yet to receive the NAACP’s letter. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about environmental justice and the regulatory responsibilities of local authorities in the face of industrial growth.