05/29/2026
Elon Musk’s reputation for clean energy is facing a massive legal challenge in Memphis.
The new xAI supercomputer facility is under fire for ditching solar power in favor of heavy industrial natural gas.
Dozens of gas turbines are currently being used to meet the massive electricity demands of Musk’s latest AI models.
Environmental groups and local residents have filed a lawsuit alleging the facility is operating without the required air permits.
The turbines are reportedly releasing significant amounts of pollutants like nitrogen oxide into the surrounding air.
Critics argue that this move contradicts Musk’s career-long promise of a sustainable, solar-powered future.
The controversy highlights the extreme energy hunger of the AI race and the environmental costs of building the world’s most powerful computers.
Legal experts say the outcome of this case could force xAI to find cleaner ways to power its massive data centers.