Musk's xAI is being sued over its data center generators -- now it's buying $2.8B more

[highplainsdem]

Last edited Wed May 20, 2026, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TechCrunch

In SpaceX’s IPO filing, released Wednesday, the company said its xAI division will buy another $2.8 billion worth of turbines for its AI infrastructure over the next three years. One deal, worth $2 billion, is specifically for “mobile gas turbines,” the kind that it’s currently being sued over.

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Each of the types of turbines xAI is operating have the potential to emit more than 2,000 tons of NOx pollution annually, a group of chemicals that contributes to asthma-inducing smog.

The company claims that it can operate the turbines for up to a year without permits because they are “mobile” — that is, they’re still on the trailer they were shipped on. The company appears to be exploiting a discrepancy between state and federal interpretations. Mississippi claims it doesn’t need to permit mobile generators.

But federal regulations say that turbines of that size, even if they’re on a trailer, are still subject to air-pollution regulations. The EPA ruled earlier this year that xAI was operating the turbines in violation of federal law.

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Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/musks-xai-is-being-sued-over-its-data-center-generators-now-its-buying-2-8b-more/

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The IPO mentions that injunctions or rescinded permits "would adversely affect our AI business."

They don't care how much pollution from the data centers will adversely affect people living nearby.

I talked to a couple of Republican relatives today who are really upset about data centers and what the AI bros are doing. One is particularly upset with the Republican governor of his state for being pro-AI. The other is especially repulsed by Elon Musk.

[progree]

1. And as usual, not a goddam word about greenhouse gas emissions that gas turbines emit in copious amounts

The number of natural-gas-fired power plant being developed to power US data centers is about the same as California's entire generating capacity from all sources combined (California is the world's 4th largest economy).

Another equivalence that might be more relatable (but nobody seems to give a shit either way, certainly the msm doesn't) --

The amount of natural-gas-fired generation in development just to power near-future U.S. data centers is equivalent, in greenhouse gas emissions, to adding 100 MILLION ADDITIONAL gasoline-fueled cars to the roads. All that mostly just for AI and cryptocurrency mining.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3666729

[C Moon]

2. We're definitely in the AI wildwest. Regulations need to be created.

That's probably why they are all scrambling to get the stuff built.

[dalton99a]

3. Kick