Infrared Evidence Exposes Xai’s Supercomputer Pollution Cover-Up in Memphis

Infrared imaging has uncovered a pollution crisis at xAI’s Memphis supercomputer facility. At least 35 methane gas turbines operate without required permits, according to recent evidence. The facility consumes 150 megawatts of power and a million gallons of water daily. Emissions release harmful chemicals including formaldehyde, threatening local communities. Memphis Community Against Pollution leads opposition to the development. Further investigation reveals concerning impacts on both air quality and water supply.

Infrared imaging has uncovered a growing pollution crisis at Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer facility in Memphis, where dozens of unpermitted methane gas turbines are operating under the radar. The Southern Environmental Law Center discovered at least 35 portable methane gas turbines installed without required air permits. Recent satellite imagery shows the company has nearly doubled its number of polluting devices, many with enough power to supply an entire city.

The facility’s environmental impact is alarming. xAI’s supercomputers require about 150 megawatts of computing power – ten times more electricity than web searches. With 60% of AI electricity coming from fossil fuels, the Memphis operation creates significant air pollution. The facility also consumes roughly one million gallons of water daily just for cooling.

Health risks to nearby residents are mounting. The 15 gas combustion turbines emit formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent. These emissions worsen ground-level ozone problems and release particulate matter that increases risks of heart attacks, respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and even death. The pollution spreads throughout Memphis, affecting air quality across the city. Similar to vehicle emissions, these pollutants disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including children and the elderly.

Water concerns are equally troubling. The supercomputer facility threatens local drinking water supplies. Increased aquifer pumping could potentially pull toxic arsenic from TVA’s coal ash ponds into the drinking water. The facility’s total power requirement of 560 MW of power is unprecedented for the region, raising serious environmental sustainability questions. The wastewater recycling plant recently approved will reduce strain on the city’s aquifer by only 9%.

The Boxtown community in South Memphis has been fighting against the facility for over six months. Memphis Community Against Pollution leads efforts against what they call “dirty” development. Before a scheduled public hearing with the US Department of Health, secretive fliers claiming xAI has low emissions were distributed to historically Black neighborhoods. Residents were unaware of facility development until after its public announcement, learning about it only through local news reports.

Memphis has struggled with smog problems for years. xAI likely represents the largest industrial source of smog-forming NOx pollutant in the region, further hampering the city’s ability to meet federal air quality standards.