Feb 17, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
The US environmental non-profit Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), alongside other environmental groups, is preparing to sue xAI over the deployment of unpermitted gas turbines powering its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis, Tennessee.
“xAI has once again built a polluting power plant without any permits and without any notice to nearby communities,” SELC senior attorney Patrick Anderson said. “There are no loopholes or exceptions —xAI is breaking the law while leaving local communities to deal with the consequences, and we plan to take them to court.”
“xAI is running a de facto power plant without an air permit, without necessary pollution controls, and without regard for families living as close as a half mile away,” said Laura Thoms, enforcement director for Earthjustice. “We won’t let the company disregard the law and the health of Mississippi residents.”
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