According to an operating permit filed with the Shelby County Health Department, Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, intends to continue operating 15 gas turbines to power its “Colossus” supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, without interruption from June 2025 to June 2030.

The significance of this development lies in the environmental implications, as reported by The Commercial Appeal, which obtained the relevant documents. The news outlet notes that environmental concerns have been raised due to the turbines’ emission of hazardous air pollutants (HAP), including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding the EPA’s annual cap of 10 tons per source. As stated in the facility’s operating permit, each turbine emits 11.51 tons of HAP annually.

The turbines have been in operation since summer 2024 without prior public notice or oversight, according to Eric Hilt, a spokesperson for the Southern Environmental Law Center, a prominent environmental nonprofit organization. Furthermore, the permits do not account for the emissions generated during this period.

Hilt expressed concerns to The Commercial Appeal, stating, “This is another instance of the company lacking transparency with the community and local leaders.”

The Shelby County Health Department informed the outlet that the permits are still pending approval and that there is currently “no set timeline for approval.”