Justice Department backs xAI's use of mobile gas turbines amid lawsuit
The U.S. Justice Department argued that shutting down xAI's trailer-mounted natural-gas turbines would harm national, economic and energy security, countering a lawsuit filed by the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center.
The Justice Department filed a memorandum on Monday supporting xAI in a case that seeks to halt the company's operation of dozens of trailer-mounted natural-gas turbines at its Memphis data centers. The department warned that a court order forcing the turbines offline could undermine "American national, economic, and energy security" by disrupting power supplies for artificial-intelligence systems used in military operations. > "Grok is one of four AI models that support mission-critical operations, such as recent strikes in Iran," the memorandum said.
The lawsuit was originally brought by the NAACP in April, with the Southern Environmental Law Center representing the civil-rights group. Plaintiffs argue that the turbines, although on trailers, should be treated as stationary sources under federal air-pollution law and therefore require permits. xAI maintains that the mobile units are exempt from Mississippi regulations for a one-year period.
Since the turbines were first installed, the company has increased the count to 57 units across its Colossus and Colossus 2 facilities. Environmental monitors have recorded rises in particulate matter (PM2.5), formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides, pollutants linked to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. The plaintiffs contend that the additional emissions have worsened air quality in a region already facing high pollution levels.
