A federal judge rejected former President Donald Trump's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit against xAI, the data center company owned by Elon Musk, which faces allegations of operating unpermitted methane gas turbines in Memphis, Tennessee. The legal battle stems from thermal imaging that revealed over 30 turbines operating without proper environmental permits, potentially spiking pollution in predominantly Black communities. The NAACP filed the suit seeking an injunction to force xAI to use best available pollution control technology and penalties up to $124,426 per day per violation.
Trump had argued the EPA could unilaterally dismiss such suits under the Clean Air Act to support his AI Action Plan, but the court ruled that "nothing" in the Act grants the Administrator this power. The ruling is seen as a major win for environmental groups and communities worried about AI industry pollution. Earthjustice enforcement director Laura Thoms praised the decision, vowing to continue holding the company accountable for illegal air emissions nationwide.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing