xAI Data Center Approved for 15 Turbines, But 24 Spotted in Imaging
▼ Summary
– xAI secured an air permit from the Shelby County Health Department to operate 15 methane gas turbines at its Memphis data center, with restrictions to limit emissions.
– The permit requires xAI to install best available control technology (BACT) by September 1 and expires in 2027, with non-compliance risking EPA or county enforcement.
– Memphis residents allege xAI has been operating turbines without BACT for over a year, disproportionately affecting nearby Black communities with poor air quality.
– The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) claims the permit doesn’t cover all 24 turbines on-site, leaving some emissions unregulated despite public concerns.
– The SELC criticized the health department for ignoring community pushback and failing to address all turbines, potentially worsening local air pollution.
The Shelby County Health Department has approved an air permit for xAI’s Colossus supercomputer data center in Memphis, allowing the operation of 15 methane gas turbines under strict emissions controls. The permit, valid until January 2027, mandates the installation of best available control technology (BACT) by September 1 to limit pollution. Failure to comply could result in enforcement by the EPA or local authorities.
However, Memphis residents and environmental advocates argue the permit falls short. For over a year, community groups have raised alarms about xAI allegedly running 24 turbines without proper emissions controls, disproportionately affecting nearby Black neighborhoods already burdened by industrial pollution. In June, the NAACP threatened legal action if xAI failed to address concerns about smog-forming emissions.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) criticized the permit for overlooking the additional turbines visible in recent thermal imaging. According to the SELC, the health department’s decision disregards both the facility’s full operational scale and months of public opposition from residents worried about worsening air quality. While the permit imposes reporting requirements for the 15 turbines, it leaves the remaining units unaccounted for, raising questions about transparency and regulatory oversight.
Local activists stress that merely regulating a portion of the turbines isn’t enough. “This permit ignores the reality of what’s happening on the ground,” the SELC stated, emphasizing the need for comprehensive monitoring to protect vulnerable communities. With emissions tracking set to begin, the debate over xAI’s environmental impact in Memphis is far from resolved.
(Source: Ars Technica)
