Emissions & air quality
NAACP and community group appeal xAI’s Memphis turbine air permit
Confirmed
- Date
- 2025-07-16
- Location
- Memphis, Shelby County, TN
- Category
- Emissions & air quality
On July 16, 2025, the NAACP and Young, Gifted & Green filed an appeal challenging the Shelby County Health Department’s air permit for xAI’s South Memphis data center. The permit, issued July 2, allowed 15 methane-fired turbines. The appellants argued that the permit did not address additional turbines they said had operated without permits, and challenged the department’s interpretation of Clean Air Act requirements. The Southern Environmental Law Center described the appeal on behalf of the groups, and CNBC also reported on the challenge. Those assertions are allegations by the appellants, not a final legal finding that xAI violated the law. This record documents the filing of the appeal and the concerns raised at that time; it does not claim a subsequent ruling or current permit status. The date shown is the appeal date.