Elon Musk's xAI is operating nearly 50 natural gas turbines at its Mississippi data center, and the state is giving them a free pass thanks to a loophole that treats them as 'mobile' because they're sitting on flatbed trailers. Yes, because nothing says 'mobile' like a power plant that hasn't moved an inch since installation. This classification allows xAI to dodge air pollution regulations for one year, which is convenient if you're trying to pretend pollution doesn't exist.
The NAACP isn't amused. They've filed a lawsuit on behalf of local residents, arguing that the unchecked emissions are worsening air quality in an already polluted region. This week, they asked the court for an injunction against xAI, presumably hoping to stop the company from treating the neighborhood like its personal exhaust pipe.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the NAACP, says the turbines are being operated in violation of federal law, which clearly states that power plants mounted on a trailer can still be considered stationary and subject to air pollution regulations. Apparently, the law doesn't care if your power plant has wheels; it cares if it's, you know, stationary.
Currently, xAI has permits for 15 of its turbines, but that hasn't stopped them from installing more. As of now, they're operating 46 turbines, despite a Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce press release from May 2025 claiming that 'about half' of the 35 turbines then in operation would remain on site. So much for promises.