xAI Defies EPA on Unpermitted Gas Turbines in MS

xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, is continuing to operate unpermitted gas turbines at its Mississippi datacenters, an investigation reveals. Thermal drone footage shows the company is still burning gas in Southaven, Mississippi, despite a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling reinforcing the need for state permits. Mississippi regulators argue the turbines, mounted on trailers, do not require permits, a stance conflicting with long-standing EPA policy under the Clean Air Act. The EPA has stated that exemptions could leave these engines without emission standards. Floodlight's thermal images, analyzed by experts, indicate over a dozen unpermitted turbines were operating nearly two weeks after the EPA's January 15th ruling. This situation highlights a broader challenge for regulators grappling with the rapid growth of AI datacenters and their reliance on ad hoc power sources. The emissions from these turbines are linked to serious health issues such as asthma and lung cancer, raising concerns among Southaven residents, especially given the proximity of numerous schools. Similar issues arose previously in South Memphis, Tennessee, with xAI's Colossus 1 datacenter, where unpermitted turbines operated before some were eventually permitted by county officials. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality maintains that the turbines are mobile units exempt from permits under state law and that the EPA's recent rule did not alter this determination. xAI is currently seeking permits for 41 additional turbines at the Southaven site, which could emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases and health-harming pollutants annually. Residents fear the expansion will further degrade air quality and impact community health, with some considering leaving their homes.