Latest news with #airPollution
TechCrunch
2 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
xAI is facing a lawsuit for operating over 400 MW of gas turbines without permits
The Colossus data center operated by xAI outside of Memphis is facing a lawsuit for operating a fleet of natural gas turbines without permits. 'Over the past year, xAI has installed and operated at least 35 combustion turbines and other sources of air pollution at the Colossus site without ever obtaining the necessary preconstruction or operating air permits,' the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) wrote in a letter to xAI. The legal group submitted the letter on behalf of the NAACP. It serves as a notice for intent to sue xAI for violations of the Clean Air Act. The law requires organizations to submit such a letter 60 days in advance of filing a lawsuit. The gas turbines have the potential to emit more than 2,000 tons of NO x per year, a group of chemicals that contribute to smog. Memphis already 'had some of the worst air quality in the region,' SELC notes. 'In 2024, Memphis was deemed an asthma capital of the nation by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America due to high rates of emergency room visits and deaths from asthma.' SELC alleges that xAI failed to obtain permits required by both the federal and local regulators before installing the generators. It also alleges that the company wasn't operating them with proper air pollution controls. At one point, xAI had enough turbines to generate 421 megawatts of electricity. Last summer, the Shelby County Health Department, which oversees local air pollution compliance, 'told reporters that xAI's turbines were exempt from permitting, although SCHD still had not disclosed publicly what xAI was operating on its site nor the legal basis for any such exemption,' SELC said. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW To determine what was happening at the Colossus site, SELC paid an aerial photographer to capture images of the facility in March. The photos revealed that xAI had installed 35 turbines around the perimeter of the data center at the time. Thermal images taken about a month later showed that at least 33 of them were operational, SELC said. After those images were taken, the Greater Memphis Chamber, a local economic development agency, said that xAI had removed some of the turbines. 'The temporary natural gas turbines that were being used to power the Phase I GPUs prior to grid connection are now being demobilized and will be removed from the site over the next two months,' the Memphis Chamber said. 'About half of the operating turbines will remain' until a second substation complete's the data centers connection to the grid, the organization added, and that once the substation was complete, the turbines would serve as backups. But a flight on June 15 showed that at least 26 turbines remained, including three new ones that had been installed since the April flight. The total generating capacity was around 407 megawatts, just 14 megawatts shy of the previous amount. 'With very few exceptions — none of which apply here — new sources of criteria and other air pollutants in Tennessee must obtain preconstruction approval in the form of an air permit as well as a permit to operate and emit pollutants,' SELC said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Relief' at rejection of incinerator plan
Campaigners have said they are "relieved" a proposal to build an incinerator that would have burned up to 260,000 tonnes of waste a year has been rejected by councillors. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's planning committee voted to turn down the application from MVV Environmental Ltd to construct the energy-from-waste facility at Canford Resource Park near Bournemouth. It would have burned non-recyclable and non-hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial waste to generate electricity. Opponents had raised concerns about levels of air pollution and a "six-mile toxic plume" from the plant. MVV Environmental's proposals said the plant would have provided 28.5MW of electricity to businesses at Churchill Magna Business Park as well as to Arena Way and Magna Road. The council said 469 objections had been received during the planning process. They included objections to building on green belt land, issues over transporting waste into the site and removing residue, as well as air pollution and its impact on nearby Canford Heath. Council planners had recommended the scheme be approved but it was rejected by the committee by six votes to three. Following the meeting, Frank Ahern from local campaign group MagWatch said he was "cock-a-hoop" at the decision. "People will be absolutely thrilled and relieved. A lot of young mothers were distraught at the thought of this going through and the effect it would have on their children. "The answer is not incinerating - it's recycling more effectively," he added. Joanna Bury of Wimborne Extinction Rebellion said: "I am so relieved. The community was so frightened of this happening. "We are so grateful to all the councillors who stood up for the people of Dorset, for all the worried families and for nature." Resident Natalie Clarke who lives less than a mile from the proposed plant had earlier said the issue was "emotional" "My concern is what affect will this have on my family, especially our young children, breathing in these toxic fumes 24-7. The long-term effects could be devastating". Speaking during the meeting, Paul Carey of MVV Environmental insisted the company would be a "good neighbour". "Please be assured of our intentions to work responsibly in our community and environment," he told councillors. In a statement following the decision, the company said: ""We will need to wait for the publication of the official reasons for refusal, and to see if the Secretary of State intends to intervene, before deciding whether to appeal." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Incinerator proposal rejected by council Proposed incinerator is granted environmental permit Views wanted on waste incinerator plans BCP Council
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Relief' at rejection of incinerator plan
Campaigners have said they are "relieved" a proposal to build an incinerator that would have burned up to 260,000 tonnes of waste a year has been rejected by councillors. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's planning committee voted to turn down the application from MVV Environmental Ltd to construct the energy-from-waste facility at Canford Resource Park near Bournemouth. It would have burned non-recyclable and non-hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial waste to generate electricity. Opponents had raised concerns about levels of air pollution and a "six-mile toxic plume" from the plant. MVV Environmental's proposals said the plant would have provided 28.5MW of electricity to businesses at Churchill Magna Business Park as well as to Arena Way and Magna Road. The council said 469 objections had been received during the planning process. They included objections to building on green belt land, issues over transporting waste into the site and removing residue, as well as air pollution and its impact on nearby Canford Heath. Council planners had recommended the scheme be approved but it was rejected by the committee by six votes to three. Following the meeting, Frank Ahern from local campaign group MagWatch said he was "cock-a-hoop" at the decision. "People will be absolutely thrilled and relieved. A lot of young mothers were distraught at the thought of this going through and the effect it would have on their children. "The answer is not incinerating - it's recycling more effectively," he added. Joanna Bury of Wimborne Extinction Rebellion said: "I am so relieved. The community was so frightened of this happening. "We are so grateful to all the councillors who stood up for the people of Dorset, for all the worried families and for nature." Resident Natalie Clarke who lives less than a mile from the proposed plant had earlier said the issue was "emotional" "My concern is what affect will this have on my family, especially our young children, breathing in these toxic fumes 24-7. The long-term effects could be devastating". Speaking during the meeting, Paul Carey of MVV Environmental insisted the company would be a "good neighbour". "Please be assured of our intentions to work responsibly in our community and environment," he told councillors. In a statement following the decision, the company said: ""We will need to wait for the publication of the official reasons for refusal, and to see if the Secretary of State intends to intervene, before deciding whether to appeal." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Incinerator proposal rejected by council Proposed incinerator is granted environmental permit Views wanted on waste incinerator plans BCP Council
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Canford incinerator campaigners "relieved" at council rejection
Campaigners have said they are "relieved" a proposal to build an incinerator that would have burned up to 260,000 tonnes of waste a year has been rejected by Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's planning committee voted to turn down the application from MVV Environmental Ltd to construct the energy-from-waste facility at Canford Resource Park near would have burned non-recyclable and non-hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial waste to generate had raised concerns about levels of air pollution and a "six-mile toxic plume" from the plant. MVV Environmental's proposals said the plant would have provided 28.5MW of electricity to businesses at Churchill Magna Business Park as well as to Arena Way and Magna council said 469 objections had been received during the planning included objections to building on green belt land, issues over transporting waste into the site and removing residue, as well as air pollution and its impact on nearby Canford planners had recommended the scheme be approved but it was rejected by the committee by six votes to three. Following the meeting, Frank Ahern from local campaign group MagWatch said he was "cock-a-hoop" at the decision."People will be absolutely thrilled and relieved. A lot of young mothers were distraught at the thought of this going through and the effect it would have on their children."The answer is not incinerating - it's recycling more effectively," he Bury of Wimborne Extinction Rebellion said: "I am so relieved. The community was so frightened of this happening. "We are so grateful to all the councillors who stood up for the people of Dorset, for all the worried families and for nature." Resident Natalie Clarke who lives less than a mile from the proposed plant had earlier said the issue was "emotional""My concern is what affect will this have on my family, especially our young children, breathing in these toxic fumes 24-7. The long-term effects could be devastating".Speaking during the meeting, Paul Carey of MVV Environmental insisted the company would be a "good neighbour"."Please be assured of our intentions to work responsibly in our community and environment," he told a statement following the decision, the company said: ""We will need to wait for the publication of the official reasons for refusal, and to see if the Secretary of State intends to intervene, before deciding whether to appeal." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Louisiana: controversial Denka plant suspends production after dire losses
A controversial chemical plant in the centre of Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' region has indefinitely suspended all production following dire financial results, the facility's operators announced on Tuesday. The Denka Performance Elastomer plant in St John Parish has long been associated with chronic air pollution issues and was the subject of a years-long Guardian reporting series examining the disproportionate cancer risk rates experienced by the majority-Black fence-line communities that surround the facility. Denka, a Japanese chemicals firm, cited growing regulation during the Biden presidency and a 'sustained slowdown in the global market demand' for its product, a synthetic rubber called neoprene, which is manufactured at the site. The company had not decided on permanent closure, a statement said, adding the chemicals giant was 'exploring all available options for the future of the site, including sale of the facility'. The fence-line community's fight for clean air has become a national and international environmental justice clarion call, prompting a number of interventions from the Biden administration. These included the introduction of a new rule governing emissions on the plant's primary pollutant, a likely human carcinogen named chloroprene, and a US justice department lawsuit seeking to compel Denka to lower its pollution. The Trump administration sought to undo many of these initiatives. Trump's justice department dropped the litigation in March citing 'ideological overreach' and a new executive order targeting so-called 'DEI programs'. Denka said the administration had also 'committed to rewrite' the Biden-era chloroprene rule. Still, the company said in a statement that it had endured 'extraordinary loss in its financial results' for the last year amounting to a 16.1 billion yen (roughly $109m) in losses. Although citing a decline in global demand, the company also blamed the uncertainty caused by increased regulation under Joe Biden for its facility's financial collapse in America. The Guardian has revealed how the plant's former owners, US chemicals giant DuPont, sought to sell the facility in 2015 in a secretive deal after citing concerns about potential environmental regulation and its impact on profit margins. DuPont allegedly withheld information about these concerns before selling to Denka. DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Denka made reference to the 2015 sale again on Tuesday, suggesting it had 'not anticipated' the need to install pollution control technology and equipment at the point of purchase. Since purchasing the facility, the Japanese firm has invested over $35m in emissions offset technology and has claimed to have reduced chloroprene emissions by more than 80%. Notably, chloroprene readings recorded by the EPA have continued to show measurements well in excess of the federal government's lifetime exposure guidance. Residents who have fought for years against the plant's pollution expressed some cautious optimism on Tuesday. 'It [the suspension of production] is not about us, the community. They don't care about us,' said Mary Hampton of Boundless Community Action. 'What I see now is that they never intended to get emissions down. But now they've been hit internationally they don't have a choice.' Hampton, who has lived in the fence-line community of Reserve for her entire life and lost a number of family members to cancer, added that the community remained concerned about a potential sale to another manufacturer. 'I worry it's just a temporary thing,' Hampton said. 'I worry they're going to sell to somebody else, who will come in with the same regulations and keep doing exactly what they want.'
