MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As xAI begins operations in southwest Memphis, some Mid-South environmental groups are asking the Shelby County Health Department to investigate possible permit violations at the facility.
Elon Musk's xAI facility, which houses the world's largest supercomputer, has officially moved into the former Electrolux building in southwest Memphis.
MLGW confirmed to ABC24 that the utility is now supplying power to the facility, with a 50-megawatt capacity.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Memphis Community Against Pollution, Young Gifted and Green, and the Sierra Club, sent a letter Aug. 26, 2024, to the Shelby County Health Department.
The groups said 18 gas turbines are currently running at the xAI facility without required air permits. They said the turbines create smog, which is already an issue for the Memphis area. Experts say high levels of smog can increase risks for asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses.
The letter to the health department claims that, while there are some exemptions available for some turbines and engines to run without permits, they don’t believe the xAI turbines meet the exemption requirements.
The groups are asking the health department to investigate and take action if they find that xAI is operating without required permits.
“Turning a blind eye to unpermitted gas turbines will make it even harder for Memphians to breathe,” said a statement to ABC24 from the Southern Environmental Law Center.
xAI plans to use the supercomputer to train Grok, which is X's chatbot created to compete with ChatGPT. It's expected to hire as many as 200 people before the official grand opening.
