The Shelby County Health Department’s decision to approve Elon Musk’s xAI for 15 natural gas turbines with air emissions permits has been challenged by environmental organizations.
The permit for the AI corporation was approved on July 2. An appeal was then submitted to the Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board by the Southern Environmental Law Center, environmental organizations, and the NAACP.
Amanda Garcia, Senior Attorney at SELC, stated in a statement. “The health department set a dangerous precedent by failing to hold xAI accountable for illegally installing 35 polluting methane gas turbines at the site without obtaining a permit, allowing xAI or other companies to operate an unlimited number of new polluting turbines at any time without any public oversight or approval.”
xAI revealed plans to construct Colossus II, a new supercomputer, near Whitehaven. Additionally, Musk stated that he will be bringing in a power plant from abroad to assist in operating the facilities.
