NAACP Slams xAI’s Memphis Data Center

Civil Rights Group Demands Shutdown of Controversial AI Facility

The NAACP has launched a forceful campaign against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, demanding immediate action against its controversial Colossus data center in South Memphis. The civil rights organization argues the facility poses serious environmental and health risks to predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Health and Environmental Concerns Escalate

In a strongly-worded letter to local officials, the NAACP condemned what it called a “lackadaisical approach” to regulating xAI’s operations. The group specifically targeted the facility’s use of gas turbines, which reportedly emit dangerous levels of formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides that exceed EPA limits.

“The Shelby County Health Department has allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting over the past year,” the NAACP revealed. While xAI has since applied for permits to operate 15 turbines, activists question why enforcement actions weren’t taken sooner.

Environmental Justice at Stake

The location choice has become a flashpoint in environmental justice debates. The Colossus facility sits near Boxtown, a historically Black community already facing elevated health risks. “Cancer risks in the area are four times the national average,” the NAACP noted, accusing officials of exacerbating existing disparities.

This controversy highlights the growing tension between AI infrastructure expansion and environmental protection, particularly in vulnerable communities. The NAACP’s intervention suggests tech companies may face increasing scrutiny about where and how they build energy-intensive computing facilities.

Regulatory Response and Future Outlook

The letter was addressed to multiple officials, including outgoing Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water stated they hadn’t received the correspondence yet when contacted by media.

As artificial intelligence systems grow more powerful and energy-hungry, this confrontation in Memphis may signal the beginning of broader debates about the environmental and social costs of AI development. The NAACP’s action represents one of the most prominent civil rights challenges to emerging AI infrastructure projects to date.