xAI’s supercomputer in Memphis faces pushback from native leaders and environmental teams over issues about air air pollution regardless of its promise of financial development.
xAI’s Memphis facility was touted because the world’s largest supercomputer. It has sparked opposition from the NAACP, Sierra Membership, and Mississippi Democratic Celebration Chairman Cheikh Taylor.
State Rep. Taylor spoke at a Southaven church press convention just lately, arguing that the xAI facility in Memphis, Tennessee, would disproportionately hurt black residents in north Mississippi.
“Within the State of Mississippi, the purpose is to separate Republicans and Democrats on race alone. So, in the event you’re a Democrat on this state, you most likely seem like me,” Taylor mentioned.
He additionally criticized prioritizing financial features over environmental well being, asking, “Are you able to belief Elon Musk to inform the reality?”
Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson echoed these issues, linking the opposition to a broader battle towards air pollution. “The paltry cash xAI has dangled in entrance of our short-sighted leaders is just not value the price of respiration soiled and–in some circumstances–lethal air,” Pearson mentioned.
These native leaders and environmental teams are urging native governments and the Environmental Safety Company to disclaim xAI’s air allow purposes for 45 to 90 methane gasoline generators within the Memphis and Southaven areas.
xAI has circuitously addressed the criticism however has taken steps to energy its Colossus supercomputer sustainably. Final month, the Higher Memphis Chamber introduced that Tesla Megapack batteries would stabilize the ability’s energy, with a brand new 150-megawatt electrical substation finishing its first development part.
“The short-term pure gasoline generators that have been getting used to energy the Part I GPUs previous to grid connection at the moment are being demobilized and shall be faraway from the location over the following two months,” shared the Chamber.
An extra 160+ Megapacks have been delivered to xAI’s Memphis facility for the Colossus 2 information heart throughout the similar month.
Introduced in June 2024, the xAI facility was hailed by Higher Memphis Chamber CEO Ted Townsend as the most important capital funding by a new-to-market firm in Memphis historical past. Regardless of its financial promise, environmental issues proceed to gasoline opposition, highlighting tensions between technological innovation and neighborhood well being within the Deep South’s rising AI hub.
