Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, launched a supercomputing facility in a majority-Black Memphis neighborhood using polluting gas turbines, sparking public outcry and concerns over misleading claims by the local Chamber of Commerce.
Wendi C. Thomas reports for MLK50: Justice Through Journalism.
In short:
- The Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce distributed a promotional mailer defending xAI’s facility, citing regulatory oversight from agencies, some of which have no authority over the operation.
- Residents of southwest Memphis, already burdened by industrial pollution and high asthma rates, fear additional harm from emissions linked to xAI’s gas turbines.
- The Shelby County Health Department approved a permit for 15 permanent turbines in July despite community protests and legal challenges from the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Key quote:
“It’s the red handkerchief of the magician. The propaganda that they are putting out to try and convince people that there’s nothing to see here, there’s nothing to worry about, is only at the behest of a multibillion-dollar corporation.”
— Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee state representative
Why this matters:
Data centers like xAI’s are spreading across the U.S. with few checks on their environmental impacts. These facilities demand massive energy and water resources and often rely on fossil fuels, making them significant contributors to air pollution. In Memphis, where industrial plants already compromise air quality, adding dozens of gas turbines raises serious public health concerns, especially in neighborhoods like Boxtown, where residents suffer high rates of asthma and cancer. With limited local oversight and weakened federal enforcement under the Trump administration, vulnerable communities may be left exposed.
Read more: Elon Musk's xAI faces lawsuit over unpermitted gas turbines polluting South Memphis air
