DOJ backs xAI gas turbines as an AI security issue

TechCrunch reported that the U.S. Department of Justice backed xAI in a lawsuit seeking to stop the company's use of mobile natural-gas turbines near its Memphis data centers. The DOJ argued that cutting off the power supply would undermine national, economic, and energy security because AI innovation supports military operations. The filing raises the stakes around AI infrastructure permitting, local air-quality challenges, and the government's willingness to frame data-center power access as a national-security priority.

Key details: Published June 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM PDT, The NAACP lawsuit targets xAI's use of unpermitted gas turbines near Memphis, The DOJ said shutting the turbines could affect AI systems supporting military operations, TechCrunch reported that xAI has added turbines at its Colossus and Colossus 2 data centers.

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