On April 15, 2026, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI, alleging that its data centers in Tennessee and Mississippi operated gas turbines without permits, violating the Clean Air Act and posing health risks to local residents. The NAACP claims that xAI and its subsidiary, MZX Tech, operated gas turbines without certification at their data center in Southaven, Mississippi, and that the pollutants and harmful chemicals emitted are linked to increased rates of asthma, respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and certain cancers. Abre' Conner, director of the NAACP's Environmental and Climate Justice Program, stated that data centers should not pose potential threats to community health. xAI did not respond to requests for comment.
