MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) is asking MLGW to "insist" to Elon Musk's xAI to make significant commitments to green policies such as using clean energy and reclaimed water, ahead of the company's plans to install a new artificial intelligence company in Southwest Memphis.
The request was made in a letter to MLGW Board Members, Memphis Community Against Pollution alongside Young, Gifted & Green and Protect Our Aquifer, and it was sent on Wednesday, during the commemoration of Juneteenth.
"Southwest Memphis bears more than its fair share of environmental burdens," says the letter. "MLGW’s commitment to xAI was presented as a done deal—a deal in which the directly-affected community had zero input, even though Southwest Memphis will bear the brunt of the facility’s pollution and strain on shared resources."
On June 5, The Greater Memphis Chamber announced that Musk is bringing the xAI ‘Gigafactory of Compute’ – what they said is the world’s largest supercomputer – to the city. The Chamber said it's "the city’s largest capital investment by a new-to-market company in Memphis history."
Environmental concerns about the project emerged almost immediately.
“Our concerns are many, and our concerns are about the overall wellbeing of our community, the overall wellbeing of our environment. Because what we can’t do is continue to sacrifice our environment for prosperity and for profit,” said KeShaun Pearson, executive director of MCAP, a day after the project was announced.
MLGW President Doug McGowen said the utility has been mindful of similar concerns from the start, while also being mindful of the needs that a project like xAI has.
"When and if the power grid is stressed, xAI has agreed to shed their load," said McGowen.
Addressed to MLGW's Board of Commissioners, the letter asks the board to answer five questions:
- Is MLGW allowing xAI to make improvements to the existing electricity substation?
- How will MLGW meet the expected 150MW demand without impacting ratepayers reliability?
- How will MLGW meet the expected 150MW demand without increasing the already-untenable air pollution burden in Southwest Memphis?
- MLGW require xAI to commit to supporting development of advanced wastewater treatment and to purchasing reclaimed water as soon as it becomes available?
- What mitigation for impacts to drinking water infrastructure will MLGW require in the meantime?
All three non-profits also signal that this decision was not voted on, saying the plan for the facility was shaped by unelected business leaders who did not obtained "firm commitments" from xAI to mitigate the environmental impact.
The letter also focusses on the environmental burdens that Southwest Memphis faces, alerting to The Environmental Protection Agency’s EJScreen 2.0 data on Memphis, noting that the area of Southwest Memphis is on the 95-100 national percentile for toxic releases to air.
The letter also notes the approved rate hike for MLGW customers from last December, as well the numerous electric and water outages throughout the city.
"MLGW has a lot of work to do to serve even its existing customers, let alone a massive new industrial user," says the letter.
Signed by Pearson, Sarah Houston the Executive Director of Protect Our Aquifer and LaTricea D. Adams, Founder, CEO and President of Young, Gifted & Green, the letters states they do not oppose ethical economic development, but that these developments must be done with minimum harm to the community.
"We cannot in good conscience welcome with open arms a facility that has made no commitments to minimize the burden it will impose on an already overburdened Black and low-income community," states the letter. "The lack of commitment continues to perpetuate a status quo that has contributed to decades of environmental racism in the City of Memphis."
