EPA rules that xAI’s natural gas generators were illegally used

In Brief Posted: 12:49 PM PST · January 16, 2026 Image Credits: Brandon Dill for The Washington Post / Getty Images Tim De Chant EPA rules that xAI’s natural gas generators were illegally used Elon Musk’s xAI has been illegally operating dozens of natural gas turbines to power its Colossus data centers in Tennessee, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled Thursday. The AI company has argued that because the turbines were being used on a temporary basis, they were exempt from regulations. The EPA disagreed and issued its final rule on the matter, which has been in the works for over a year, declaring that xAI was in violation. The power plants drew the ire of local communities and legal organizations. The company was facing a lawsuit for contributing more ozone and particulate emissions in an already polluted region. The company was operating as many as 35 turbines, and only 15 were ultimately permitted. Today, xAI has 12 turbines providing power to its data centers there. Topics air pollution , Climate , Elon Musk , Environmental Protection Agency , In Brief , natural gas , power plants , xAI Dates TBD Locations TBA Plan ahead for the 2026 StrictlyVC events. Hear straight-from-the-source candid insights in on-stage fireside sessions and meet the builders and backers shaping the industry. Join the waitlist to get first access to the lowest-priced tickets and important updates. Waitlist Now Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Climate How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage Tim De Chant 1 day ago AI US senators demand answers from X, Meta, Alphabet, and others on sexualized deepfakes Ram Iyer Rebecca Bellan 1 day ago AI Musk denies awareness of Grok sexual underage images as California AG launches probe Rebecca Bellan 2 days ago Latest in Climate In Brief EPA rules that xAI’s natural gas generators were illegally used Tim De Chant 9 minutes ago Climate Trump administration wants tech companies to buy $15B of power plants they may not use Tim De Chant 1 hour ago Climate How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage Tim De Chant 1 day ago

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