EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin met with xAI last month as EPA officials are considering granting a permit to the artificial intelligence company owned by Elon Musk.
EPA did not immediately respond to questions about who at xAI met with Zeldin, or what was discussed at the May 22 meeting. But the company has multiple pending air pollution issues before the agency.
XAI has been under fire from Memphis community groups over its use of 35 methane turbines — without Clean Air Act permits or pollution controls — to power its first supercomputer. The company has been operating dozens of the turbines for nearly a year without permits, but this winter finally applied for Clean Air Act permits for 15 of the machines.
At the same time, xAI has indicated it may be interested in bringing 40 to 90 additional gas turbines to a second Memphis location. The company submitted pre-application documents to EPA about that proposal in March.
It is not clear whether either of those projects were discussed at Zeldin’s meeting. Asked about the meeting, EPA pointed to previous agency actions to support AI.
In April, EPA relaxed pollution rules limiting how long reciprocating internal combustion engines can run without a permit, something the agency says will help boost the technology. The engines are commonly used to power pumps and compressors in power and manufacturing plants, often during emergency events. New EPA guidance would allow some of those engines to operate for longer periods of time in an effort to ensure data centers have reliable power.
Zeldin himself has broadly spoken of his support for AI. Indeed, boosting the industry is one of four agency “pillars” he announced in February.
“Those looking to invest in and develop AI should be able to do so in the U.S., while we work to ensure data centers and related facilities can be powered and operated in a clean manner with American-made energy,” Zeldin said at the time. “Under President [Donald] Trump’s leadership, I have no doubt that we will become the AI capital of the world.”
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson (D), who represents the area of South Memphis where xAI is located, said he is “disappointed” that EPA has not yet stepped in to deny xAI’s permit.
“It concerns me when EPA says one of its goals is the expansion of data centers and it’s not saying its responsibility is to make sure everyone has the ability to breathe clean air,” he said. “I remain hopeful that the EPA will do its part to stop the illegal pollution of our lungs, and I’m also cautious that this admin has not done things that are helpful for people in the communities I represent.”
Reporter Miranda Wilson contributed.
Reach the reporter on Signal at Awitt.40
