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Controversy Surrounds Elon Musk’s xAI Supercomputer in Memphis Over Pollution Concerns
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, is generating considerable debate in Memphis, Tennessee. The company is constructing a large supercomputer there to bolster xAI’s computing capabilities. However, local inhabitants and environmental advocates contend that the data center, since commencing operations last summer, has emerged as a significant source of air pollution in the county. Simultaneously, some local officials have supported the billionaire, emphasizing his investment in the Memphis area.
Public Hearing Scheduled Amidst Rising Tensions
The initial public hearing involving the local health department is slated for Friday, where county representatives will hear arguments from all parties involved. Leading up to the hearing, unsigned flyers promoting the notion that xAI’s emissions are minimal were circulated among residents of historically Black neighborhoods. Meanwhile, environmental organizations have been compiling data to assess the probable extent of pollution produced by the AI firm.
The conflict intensified earlier this month when the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) revealed that xAI had discreetly installed at least 35 portable methane gas turbines without obtaining the necessary air permits to power its supercomputer. The environmental group asserts that such a large number of generators possesses the capacity to supply power to an entire city and releases substantial quantities of hazardous and carcinogenic pollutants. The SELC’s discovery was made via satellite imagery of the xAI site.
City Official’s Response
Shortly after the news surfaced, Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated in a public forum that he had communicated with xAI and that the company was not utilizing all the gas generators, as reported by WREG News. Young, a longstanding supporter of xAI’s activities in Memphis, pointed out that the company has a pending request with the Shelby County Health Department to operate 15 generators.
“While there are 35 on site, only 15 are operational,” Young explained. “The remaining units are stored on the property.”
Thermal Imaging Raises Further Questions
Now, the Southern Environmental Law Center has released new images of xAI, including thermal imaging. These images indicate that 33 turbines were emitting significant heat, suggesting they were all likely in use when the photos were taken.
“It is alarming that xAI would operate more than 30 methane gas turbines without any permits or any public oversight,” stated Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “xAI’s failure to disclose that it’s running dozens of these polluting turbines at its south Memphis data center has left Memphians in the dark about what is being pumped into the air they breathe every day.”
xAI, Mayor Young, and the Shelby County Health Department have not yet responded to requests for comments.
The Scale of xAI’s “Colossus”
Musk refers to the xAI supercomputer as “Colossus.” Its function is to deliver computing power for xAI’s chatbot, Grok. The facility housing Colossus spans the equivalent of 13 football fields, and Musk has announced plans to double its size.
Last month, he acquired additional real estate in Memphis to broaden xAI’s local infrastructure. The new parcel covers 1 million square feet.
Environmental Justice Concerns in Memphis
Artificial intelligence demands a substantial quantity of energy to execute processes and provide rapid answers to user queries. In the United States, a considerable portion of this energy is derived from the combustion of fossil fuels. Within a few miles of the xAI site are several residential communities that have historically struggled with industrial contamination. This region, predominantly inhabited by African Americans, experiences elevated rates of cancer and asthma and a reduced average lifespan relative to other areas of the city.
Community Response to xAI’s Presence
Members of this community have voiced strong opposition to xAI and are advocating for enhanced scrutiny and environmental regulations concerning the company. Recently, numerous residents reported receiving flyers that minimized the degree of pollution caused by gas turbines.
These flyers, distributed by an unidentified group calling itself “Facts Over Fiction,” contain a bulleted list arguing that the turbines represent “cleaner tech” and are “minor” sources of pollution since they utilize natural gas rather than diesel or coal. The flyers state that these generators have low emissions and are regulated by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Shelby County Health Department. However, both the EPA and the Shelby County Health Department have clarified that they have not granted permits for xAI’s gas generators.
“Those 15 xAI turbines?” the flyer reads. “They’re specially designed to protect the air we all breathe.”
Justin Pearson, a Tennessee state representative representing this part of Memphis, posted on Instagram that the flyers are “lying to us about xAI’s methane gas pollution” and “we know methane gas leads to more asthma attacks, leads to more respiratory illness.”
Call for Transparency and Action
He called for identification of the source of the flyers and urged community members to participate in the upcoming public hearing. “We have to combat the lies and misinformation,” he wrote. “Clean air is a human right and the [Shelby county health department] has a duty to protect the air we breathe.”