Trump admin tries to block Clean Air Act lawsuit over xAI's gas turbines

The Trump administration is urging a federal judge to dismiss a Clean Air Act lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI Corp., arguing the case threatens a data center that powers Grok AI systems used by the Department of War for military operations, including recent strikes in Iran [1]. The NAACP sued xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech in April, alleging the companies violated the Clean Air Act by operating 27 gas turbines without an air permit in Southaven, Mississippi [1]. The number of unpermitted turbines rose to 57 by mid-May, with plans to install two more, the NAACP said in a June 12 filing [1]. “Defendants’ Colossus Gas Plant powers xAI’s nearby Colossus 2 data center, which in turn powers the chatbot ‘Grok,’” the lawsuit stated [1]. The gas turbines have fueled both health concerns and noise complaints [1]. US Department of Justice lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case, noting the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality determined the turbines do not require permits [1]. The US filing said the lawsuit “threaten[s] artificial-intelligence innovation, plus the energy needed to power it,” and argued that “the NAACP’s attempt to cut off the power that supports Grok also threatens national security because… Grok provides critical support for the Department of War’s military operations” [1]. Cameron Stanley, chief digital and artificial intelligence officer for the Department of War, submitted a declaration stating that xAI’s Grok Gov Model aided targeted strikes in Iran during Operation Epic Fury [1]. Grok was used with the Maven Smart System to help US forces “deploy over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours during Operation Epic Fury, a testament to the greatly increased operational efficiency made possible by the Grok Gov Model,” Stanley wrote [1]. He added that the Grok Gov Model has unique features not found in any other AI model [1]. The administration’s intervention aligns with a broader pattern of deregulation and prioritization of domestic industry under President Trump, who began his second nonconsecutive term on January 20, 2025 [2][3]. His return to the presidency saw increased authority given to Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency and direct airstrikes against Iran in June [3]. xAI, originally founded by Musk and 11 researchers in 2023, was acquired by SpaceX in February 2026 and now operates as a subsidiary focused on the Grok chatbot and the Colossus supercomputer [4]. The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the NAACP, criticized the government’s position. The US is arguing “that xAI should be allowed to break the law solely because the Trump administration says so,” the group said [1].