Elon Musk's xAI is under fire in Memphis for deploying several methane gas turbines allegedly without permits at its supercomputer site. With growing public concern about air pollution and a lack of transparency about the operations, a crucial health department hearing is set to take place this Friday.
What Happened: xAI set up operations at a former Electrolux factory in southwest Memphis last summer to power its "Colossus" supercomputer with portable methane turbines. According to the Guardian, the Southern Environmental Law Center recently shared that 35 turbines were brought in, but without air permits.
Thermal images now reveal that 33 of them are running, even though Mayor Paul Young claimed that only 15 are active, the report said.
xAI's AI chatbot Grok is fueled by these turbines, and Musk has already purchased another 1 million sq ft site to expand their operations.
xAI did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Why It Matters: The facility is situated in a historically Black area already impacted by industrial pollution and rising rates of cancer and asthma. State Rep. Justin Pearson, speaking to Democracy Now, said: "We're talking about 17.2 tons of formaldehyde being released into our air, over 130 tons of nitrogen oxide—making them a bigger polluter than the Memphis International Airport. Elected officials have a responsibility to the people—not to billionaires misusing their power." Keshan Pearson, executive director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, called the project a "human rights violation."
Meanwhile, thousands of residents received fliers from a group called "Facts Over Fiction," claiming that the turbines are low-emission and EPA-regulated. However, the Guardian reports that neither the EPA nor the local health department has issued permits.
Mayor Paul Young has suggested funneling tax revenue from xAI to fund local projects, but critics like Pearson argue that this doesn't make up for the immense health impact.
Earlier, Musk's company requested 300 megawatts from Memphis Light, Gas and Water, raising questions about the city’s ability to supply these huge amounts of power without compromising operations.
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