TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 9, 2025

Environmental groups are urging the Shelby County Health Department to issue an emergency order to stop xAI from operating what appear to be dozens of natural gas turbines in Southwest Memphis, the Daily Memphian reports. xAI plans to use the turbines as a power source for its new data center, in addition to electricity from Memphis Light, Gas and Water and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) say the turbines appear to operating without an air emissions permit in violation of the Clean Air Act. They are asking the health department to inspect the site, order the turbines stopped and possibly impose fines of up to $25,000 per day. They also allege that the turbines could be the area’s largest emitter of nitric oxide and that formaldehyde emissions exceed legal limits. The company currently has an air emissions permit application pending with the health department with a public hearing set for April 25.