Residents Protest xAI’s Pollution in Memphis Ahead of Public Hearing

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Residents in Memphis are preparing for a public hearing on Friday regarding environmental concerns linked to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI. Critics say the company has emerged as one of the county’s major air polluters since activating its massive supercomputer last summer.

The public meeting, organized by the Shelby County health department, will allow community members and officials to voice their opinions about xAI’s operations. In the lead-up to the hearing, anonymous flyers claiming that the company has low emissions have circulated in historically Black neighborhoods, which face higher pollution rates.

Environmental activists from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) recently revealed that xAI has been operating at least 35 gas turbines without the necessary air permits. These turbines are said to release significant amounts of harmful pollutants into the air. Images taken by the SELC using satellite technology show that the turbines are emitting heat, suggesting they are fully operational.

Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney at the SELC, expressed shock at the lack of permits for these turbines. “It is appalling that xAI would operate more than 30 methane gas turbines without any permits or any public oversight,” she said. “Memphians are in the dark about what is being pumped into the air they breathe every day.”

In response to the findings, Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated that he had been in contact with xAI, insisting that only 15 of the turbines are currently active. “There are 35, but there are only 15 that are on,” Young said, adding that the others are stored on-site. However, this contradicts information released by the SELC.

Local residents are expressing concern over the clarity of pollution data. Justin Pearson, a state representative from Memphis, criticized the flyers that downplay the threat of xAI’s gas emissions. “We know methane gas leads to more asthma attacks, leads to more respiratory illness,” Pearson stated, calling for community engagement at the upcoming hearing. “Clean air is a human right.”

The flyers, distributed by a group named “Facts Over Fiction,” argued that the turbines were “cleaner tech” and “minor” polluters because they use gas. However, environmental regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have stated that xAI does not possess the required permits for its emissions.

The debate highlights broader questions about environmental justice and the impact of industrial operations on marginalized communities. Many activists argue that the presence of xAI in South Memphis exacerbates existing health disparities in an area already grappling with high rates of cancer and respiratory illnesses.

In a larger context, xAI operates its supercomputer, called “Colossus,” in a facility as large as 13 football fields. The demand for energy in artificial intelligence has raised concerns about reliance on fossil fuels and the resulting emissions in urban areas. As residents await Friday’s hearing, the situation remains tense and fraught with implications for community health.