MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors approved Memphis Light Gas and Water's request to increase the amount of power it supplies to Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer Thursday.
This facility will be the world's largest supercomputer located in southwest Memphis.
In light of the board's decision, community activists are responding,
LaTricea Adams with Young Gifted and Green, a Memphis environmental group told ABC24 they believe the TVA is dismissing their concerns and most importantly the community it impacts.
"There has been no environmental risk assessment, there has no assessment around public health. It's just too many uncertainties for people to be making such large decisions at this point," Adams said.
Adams said their group along with other environmental advocates are trying to mitigate health concerns. She said the TVA is allowing xAI to set a dangerous precedent.
"None of the people who are part of this decision live in this community. How do you know this is a good idea?" she said. "It just really sucks, that with Memphis being the Blackest city in the country that we literally were hood winked and bamboozled on purpose."
xAI's supercomputer coming to Memphis has become the topic of controversy since it was announced in June.
Memphis City councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker said there is a level of accountability and xAI has to communicate when the facility reaches peak levels.
"What it means is if the industrial customer, this is for all industrial customers, if they're going to be using over 50 megawatts then they have to sign this agreement," Walker said.
Walker said the xAI facility has been testing its capacity, which she told ABC24 is estimated at 100 megawatts.
"Right now, they have been operating off of alternative sources other than being on the grid. The gas turbines that have been controversial as well as some other things surrounding this piece," she said.
Walker said once TVA and MLGW sign the demand response agreement the xAI facility can officially be on the grid.
TVA sent a ABC24 a statement regarding their decision:
“Part of TVA’s core mission is to work with partners to bring investment and jobs to communities across our region. In every case, we carefully review the details of each company’s proposal and the associated electricity demand needs. These partnerships include maximizing demand response opportunities, which support system flexibility when peak demand gets high. We appreciate MLGW’s partnership. We are committed to providing all customers with affordable, reliable energy.”
