Elon Musk’s company xAI, built Colossus, the world’s largest supercomputer, in Memphis, Tennessee, completing construction in just 122 days. Now, xAI faces growing backlash over allegations that it operates more gas turbines than permitted, polluting historically Black neighborhoods without transparency.
Allegations of Unpermitted Operations
Residents, joined by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), claim xAI secretly operates over 30 methane gas turbines without full permits. Thermal imaging captured by SELC and SouthWings shows 33 turbines running, despite xAI’s permit application only covering 15 turbines.
KeShaun Pearson, president of Memphis Community Against Pollution, accused xAI of “perpetuating environmental racism” and ignoring community concerns. SELC Senior Attorney Amanda Garcia said xAI’s operation without proper permits is “appalling,” citing risks of increased asthma, respiratory illnesses, and cancer linked to gas turbine emissions.
Mysterious Pro-xAI Campaign
Residents reported anonymous fliers distributed in Black neighborhoods by a group called “Facts Over Fiction,” which downplayed xAI’s emissions. Although no direct link to xAI was proven, the timing of the fliers coincided with mounting public scrutiny.
Justin Pearson, Tennessee state representative and KeShaun’s brother, called on officials to investigate who is behind the fliers, accusing them of spreading “misinformation.”
Regulatory Scrutiny and Permit Hearing
The Shelby County Health Department scheduled a public hearing where residents can submit comments on xAI’s draft air permit. The draft requires xAI to install the best-available emissions control technology and maintain strict operational standards. Any failure would trigger enforcement actions from local regulators and the EPA.
However, Shelby County was already violating federal ozone standards before xAI’s arrival, meaning stricter controls may now be needed.
xAI’s Expansion Plans Continue
Despite the controversy, xAI plans to double the size of its Memphis facility. The company has invested $7 billion so far, with projections suggesting building a top AI data center could eventually cost $200 billion.
Currently, the Colossus supercomputer powers Grok, a chatbot trained on posts from Musk’s social media platform X, with plans to expand into autonomous vehicles, robotics, and scientific simulations.
