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xAI illegally operated natural gas turbines at Colossus centers: EPA
17 Jan 2026

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, has been found to have illegally operated natural gas turbines at its Colossus data centers in Tennessee.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made the ruling on Thursday after a process that had been ongoing for over a year.

The agency disagreed with xAI's argument that the temporary nature of these turbines exempted them from regulations.

Local communities and legal organizations voice concerns
Community backlash

The operation of these power plants has drawn criticism from local communities and legal organizations.

xAI was sued for contributing to higher ozone and particulate emissions in an already polluted area.

The company had been running as many as 35 turbines, with only 15 being finally approved.

Currently, xAI operates 12 turbines at its data centers in Tennessee.

EPA's ruling and its implications
Regulatory impact

The EPA's ruling comes after a long battle over the use of truck-sized gas turbines near xAI's Colossus 1 and 2 facilities.

The agency revised its policies on gas turbines, clarifying that air permits are still required for their operation, even if they are used temporarily.

This decision puts the permitting of these turbines under federal law, although it remains unclear how non-compliant companies will be penalized.

Community activists celebrate EPA's ruling
Activist response

The EPA's ruling has been welcomed by community activists in Memphis, who have long opposed xAI's use of portable turbines.

They argue that the data center has been adding more pollution to already overburdened communities.

Abre Conner, NAACP's director of environmental and climate justice, said "Our communities, air, water, and land are not playgrounds for billionaires chasing another buck."

Methane gas turbines and their environmental impact
Pollution concerns

Methane gas turbines emit harmful nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to cancer, asthma, and other upper respiratory diseases.

An EPA spokesperson told The Guardian that their final action is expected to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 296 tons annually by 2032.

This ruling is a major step toward reducing air pollution from these sources in Tennessee.

xAI's energy needs and future plans
Expansion strategy

The turbines are critical for xAI to power its supercomputers.

The Colossus 1 data center consumes 150 megawatts (MW) of electricity at full capacity, enough to power 100,000 homes for a year.

Musk set up Colossus 1 in just 122 days in summer 2024 and is now building a bigger one, Colossus 2.

A third data center has also been announced in Southaven, Mississippi.