xAI adds 19 gas turbines at Colossus 2 despite ongoing Clean Air Act lawsuit
Over 500 MW of new gas power installed after NAACP filed suit against xAI.
xAI added 19 natural gas turbines to its Colossus 2 data center in Southaven, Mississippi, between late March and early May, bringing the total to 46 turbines and over 500 megawatts of capacity. Eight of the new turbines were installed after a lawsuit from the NAACP and environmental groups alleging Clean Air Act violations. Regulators in Tennessee and Mississippi have said that because the turbines are not stationary, the company has a year to operate them without permits. The NAACP filed for an emergency injunction last week asking the court to shut down the turbines at Colossus 2.
- xAI added 19 natural gas turbines (over 500 MW) to its Colossus 2 data center between late March and early May 2025.
- The NAACP and environmental groups filed a lawsuit in April alleging Clean Air Act violations; 8 turbines were installed after the lawsuit was filed.
- xAI claims the portable turbines qualify for a one-year exemption under the Clean Air Act; an emergency injunction has been requested to shut them down.
Why It Matters
AI's massive energy appetite is clashing with environmental laws, risking public health and legal accountability for tech companies.