A prominent civil rights organization in the United States has issued a warning to the technology sector, urging local communities to demand greater accountability from companies constructing new data centers.
With electricity demand rising in the United States for the first time in almost two decades, fueled largely by the construction of extensive new data centers to advance artificial intelligence, some utilities and tech companies are increasingly resorting to fossil fuels. This trend negatively impacts air quality and intensifies the climate crisis, prompting the NAACP to present “guiding principles” aimed at helping community members combat these developments.
According to the organization, “No community should be forced to sacrifice clean air, clean water, or safe homes so that corporations and billionaires can build energy-hungry facilities.”
“No community should be forced to sacrifice clean air, clean water, or safe homes”
The NAACP is already engaged in legal action against Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis, Tennessee, and is now mobilizing community groups nationwide by releasing a “unifying guide” for those opposing new data centers and fossil fuel infrastructure. This serves as a message to the tech industry to anticipate increased resistance and potential legal challenges if community concerns continue to be overlooked.
“It allows for tech companies to be on alert,” noted Abre’ Conner, director of the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP, in an interview. “If they do not adhere to our guidelines, and we pursue other forms of advocacy, including litigation, there should be no surprise as to why we are taking these actions.”
The established framework calls for enhanced transparency from companies developing data centers, demanding that they provide information on water and energy use, emissions, subsidies, and corporate ownership at the outset of project proposals. The NAACP also insists that ongoing transparency be maintained post-operation, with continuous communication of relevant data to local communities.
Additionally, energy and water efficiency standards should be legally binding, along with any commitments made by companies to mitigate the influence of their facilities on local regions. Public benefit agreements developed between companies, community representatives, and regulatory bodies could facilitate these measures, with the NAACP planning to create templates for future use.
The guidelines also advocate for a shift toward renewable energy sources, as large data centers significantly increase dependence on fossil fuels while stressing already fragile energy grids. A recent report highlights that data centers have been central to a surge of new gas pipelines and power plants across the Southeastern U.S., contributing to heightened pollution levels.
The xAI facility in Memphis is now a critical case study for the NAACP as it seeks to secure concessions from major tech firms. Research from the University of Tennessee has shown that nitrogen dioxide levels in the vicinity of the center have surged by 79 percent since the facility became operational in 2024. Local utility authorities have reportedly signed confidentiality agreements related to the project.
The xAI data center in Memphis is a test case
In June, the Southern Environmental Law Center sent a letter to xAI on behalf of the NAACP, threatening legal action for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. Aerial images obtained by the SELC revealed 35 gas turbines installed at the site, which local environmental groups argue were operating without the necessary permits. While the Shelby County Health Department granted xAI a permit to operate 15 gas turbines in July, the SELC filed an appeal contesting this decision shortly thereafter.
Neither xAI nor the Shelby County Health Department responded promptly to requests for comment. Conner refrained from discussing “specific communications” with xAI due to ongoing legal proceedings, but noted that the NAACP has yet to formally initiate a lawsuit following the mandatory 60-day notice issued in June. “We remain hopeful that, regardless of how this unfolds, community needs will be addressed, whether through litigation or alternative solutions,” Conner stated. Additionally, xAI is in the process of developing a larger data center near its existing location in Memphis.
The data center is situated close to predominantly Black neighborhoods, including Boxtown, where cancer risks are reported to be four times higher than the national average. The facility’s gas emissions contribute further to pollution already present from other industrial sites, including an adjacent gas plant, according to the NAACP.
Many recommendations laid out in the NAACP’s guiding principles emphasize the importance of involving the communities most affected by such projects in decision-making processes and in crafting solutions.
The framework was developed collaboratively with input from nearly a dozen organizations, including Memphis Community Against Pollution and the Climate Justice Alliance. They convened in Memphis for a two-day meeting in late August, drawing inspiration from the 1991 First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, during which delegates established 17 “principles of environmental justice.”
“Through our gathering in Memphis, we aimed to demonstrate solidarity with the local community,” Conner remarked. “For too long, these areas have been seen as sacrifice zones. We refuse to allow new industries to enter these communities and contribute further to pollution.”
Read the entire framework below:
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