NAACP announces plans to sue Musk’s xAI over pollution concerns
NBC20 hrs
NAACP Threatens Lawsuit Against Musk's xAI Over Memphis Pollution
Above: Gas turbines are visible at an xAI data center on Riverport Rd in Memphis, Tenn., on April 25, 2025. Image copyright: Brandon Dill/The Washington Post/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
xAI isn't just building a data center — it's poisoning a community of vulnerable Tennesseans. With 35 unpermitted methane turbines next to historic Black neighborhoods, xAI is flooding the air with toxins in an area already burdened by pollution and cancer risk. This project must be halted until environmentally friendly alternatives are proposed.
Narrative B
While critics paint xAI's Memphis project as harmful, they ignore a deeper truth: this is a rare chance at economic rebirth. A shuttered factory is becoming the world’s largest AI hub — bringing high-tech jobs, infrastructure, and hope to a region that, as critics would agree, has too often been left behind.
Metaculus Prediction
Limited Coverage
This story currently has limited reporting from right-wing sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.