News Summary

Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis has been granted an air permit by the Shelby County Health Department despite significant public opposition and a pending lawsuit for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The permit allows xAI to continue operating its gas turbines, which power its Grok chatbot at the newly built Colossus supercomputer. The decision has sparked outrage among local residents in Boxtown, a predominantly Black community, due to the potential health risks associated with the emissions. Advocacy groups like the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center are planning to sue xAI for operating without proper permits and public oversight.