A federal judge in Mississippi has ruled that the NAACP's lawsuit against SpaceXAI will proceed, rejecting the company's attempt to dismiss the case. The lawsuit, filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, alleges that SpaceXAI violated the Clean Air Act by operating gas-fired combustion turbines at its data centers in Southaven without the necessary air permits.
The turbines are said to emit harmful pollutants, raising health concerns for local residents. SpaceXAI's defense claimed the turbines were 'mobile' and therefore exempt from permitting, but the judge determined that the plaintiffs have standing under the Clean Air Act and that the turbines do not qualify as mobile sources.
This ruling follows a recent decision where the court denied a request from the Department of Justice to dismiss the case, indicating that SpaceXAI may face significant legal and operational hurdles moving forward