Elon Musk Accused of Using AI Datacenter

Powered by Gas to Pollute Memphis

 

 

Allegations Against Musk’s xAI Project

 

 

Elon Musk is facing backlash from the residents of Memphis, Tennessee. According to CNBC, his AI datacenter is allegedly polluting the local air using illegal gas-burning turbines for power.

Shelby County, which includes Memphis, already suffers from poor air quality. Now, environmental and health activists are raising concerns over xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence project. The center uses powerful Nvidia chips to train AI models, but the way it’s powered is causing alarm.

Community Reacts to Smog Worries

In a letter sent to health officials, activists wrote,

“Against this background of untenable levels of smog, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence supercomputer project, xAI, recently sprang up in southwest Memphis. This plant requires an enormous amount of electricity.”

They argue that xAI may not have secured the required air permits to operate the gas turbines legally. The group is calling for “enforcement action” if any regulations were broken.

Silence from xAI, Familiar Tactics from Musk?

CNBC reportedly reached out to xAI for comment but received no response. This silence is not unusual. Musk has a track record of dismissing public criticism and regulatory challenges.

If true, the unlicensed turbine use would fit Musk’s reputation. Critics often describe his approach as aggressive and dismissive of environmental and legal constraints.

Past Environmental Damage Linked to Musk

This incident is not Musk’s first brush with environmental controversy. SpaceX, another of his companies, has caused significant damage to fragile wetlands near its Texas launch site. Reports also claim that SpaceX misled federal wildlife authorities in the process.

Wider Tech Industry Concerns

Musk is not the only tech leader under scrutiny. AI data centers across the U.S. are raising environmental red flags. Microsoft, for example, operates energy-intensive facilities in drought-stricken states like Arizona and Iowa. These centers consume vast amounts of electricity and water.

As the AI boom accelerates, large-scale data centers are straining America’s already fragile power infrastructure. The environmental and public health impacts are mounting.’

Privatizing Profits, Socializing Pollution

The core issue with these AI data centers lies in their economic model. Companies reap enormous profits while communities bear the cost, both financially and environmentally.

In Memphis, residents worry that AI’s future might come at the cost of their present-day health.