Elon Musk’s xAI is under intense scrutiny after revelations that dozens of gas-powered turbines are being used to fuel its massive supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, without holding the necessary air permits.
The facility, known as “Colossus,” is reportedly among the largest supercomputing operations in the U.S. and supports xAI’s chatbot, Grok. Housed in a building spanning the area of 13 football fields, the data centre has sparked outrage from local residents and environmental advocates over concerns about pollution and a lack of transparency.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) revealed earlier this month that xAI had installed at least 35 portable methane gas turbines at the site, with 33 of them appearing operational in recent thermal imaging. According to SELC, xAI failed to secure air permits for these units, bypassing public oversight and potentially violating environmental regulations.
Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney with the SELC, criticised the move. “It is appalling that xAI would operate more than 30 methane gas turbines without any permits or any public oversight,” she said, adding that locals had been “left in the dark about what is being pumped into the air they breathe every day.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young responded to the backlash by clarifying that only 15 of the turbines are currently active: “There are 35, but there are only 15 that are on,” Young said. “The other ones are stored on the site.” He also confirmed that xAI has applied for official approval to operate the active units through the Shelby County Health Department.
Still, that hasn’t quelled community concerns. A public hearing is scheduled, where residents and company representatives are expected to speak.
Flyers recently distributed in nearby neighborhoods have further stoked tensions. The leaflets, which claim to be from a group called “Facts Over Fiction,” argue that xAI’s turbines are low-emission and cleaner than alternatives like diesel or coal. However, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Shelby County Health Department have confirmed that no permits were issued for the equipment.
The affected neighborhoods near the facility have long dealt with disproportionate environmental risks. These communities report higher rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, raising deeper concerns about environmental justice and public health.
Tennessee state representative Justin Pearson condemned the anonymous flyers as misleading and urged residents to demand accountability. “They’re lying to us about xAI’s methane gas pollution,” he wrote on social media. “Clean air is a human right.”
Meanwhile, Musk’s company shows no signs of slowing down. xAI recently purchased another one-million-square-foot site nearby to expand its infrastructure in Memphis.
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