Environmental Justice Groups Challenge Air Permit for xAI Data Center

Environmental justice groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Young, Gifted and Green, have filed an appeal with the Memphis and Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board challenging the Shelby County Health Department's decision to issue an air permit to xAI, a data center company. The permit would allow xAI to run 15 polluting methane gas turbines at the site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, despite hundreds of comments opposing the draft permit.

Key Takeaways:

• The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) failed to address the dozens of unpermitted gas turbines installed at the xAI data center over the last year and ignored hundreds of comments opposing the draft permit.
• SCHD wrongly claimed that the federal Clean Air Act didn't apply to xAI's unpermitted gas turbines, citing an exemption for "nonroad engines" that is not applicable to turbines as large as the ones at the xAI site.
• The health department's flawed narrative creates an extremely concerning precedent that would allow xAI or other companies to disregard federal and local law and operate large polluting turbines without any permits or penalties.
• The NAACP and community members have repeatedly shared concerns that xAI is causing a significant increase in the pollution of the air Memphians breathe.
• The Shelby County Health Department's decision to grant the permit not only violates federal law but also goes against the department's own regulations.
• xAI has installed 35 polluting methane gas turbines at the site before getting a permit, setting a dangerous precedent that opens the door for xAI or other companies to run any number of new polluting turbines at any time without any public oversight or approval.
• The Memphis area is currently not meeting national standards for smog, and neighborhoods in South Memphis face elevated asthma rates and cancer risks four times the national average.
• Methane gas turbines release smog-forming pollution and harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, tied to asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart problems, and even certain types of cancer.

Statistics:

• 15: The number of polluting methane gas turbines xAI is allowed to run at the site.
• 35: The number of unpermitted methane gas turbines installed at the xAI data center.
• 24/7: The schedule of operation for the 15 polluting methane gas turbines.
• 100s: The number of comments opposing the draft permit that SCHD ignored.
• 4: The number of times the asthma rates and cancer risks in South Memphis neighborhoods are higher than the national average.

Sources:

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)
• Young, Gifted and Green