Elon Musk’s supercomputer sparks outrage with 33 methane turbines in Memphis
The Southern Environmental Law Center revealed xAI operated at least 35 methane gas turbines without air permits, contributing to significant pollution.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, is building a massive supercomputer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. But what was pitched as a futuristic investment in the city is now facing serious environmental criticism.
Since the supercomputer—nicknamed “Colossus”—was powered up last summer, local residents and environmental activists say it has become one of the largest air polluters in Shelby County.
“Colossus” is being used to support xAI’s chatbot Grok and is housed in a building the size of 13 football fields. Musk has already announced plans to double the size of the facility.
Earlier this month, tensions boiled over when the Southern Environmental Law Center revealed that xAI had quietly brought in 35 portable methane gas turbines to run the data center. These turbines, the group says, have the capacity to power a city—and to pollute like one too. What’s more concerning is that they were installed without air permits.
“It is appalling that xAI would operate more than 30 methane gas turbines without any permits or any public oversight,” said Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center.
“xAI’s failure to disclose that it’s running dozens of these polluting turbines at its south Memphis data center has left Memphians in the dark about what is being pumped into the air they breathe every day.”
The group discovered the turbines by analyzing satellite images and later captured thermal photos showing 33 turbines emitting heat, suggesting that most, if not all, were operational at the time.