The Shelby County Health Department has granted xAI an air emissions permit to operate the natural gas fired turbines. After air quality studies came back showing no increase in pollutants from natural gas turbines used partially to power the data center that’s home of the supercomputer, Grok, SCHD officials had little choice, but to allow the use of the turbines. xAI is following guidelines from the EPA that requires stationary natural gas fired turbines to operate under 25ppm nitrous oxide emissions. The turbines at xAI are equipped with control technology that keeps the NOx emissions around 2ppm.
Shelby County Health Department officials are requiring xAI provide air quality tests every six months.
