xAI’s Supercomputer Sparks Environmental Concerns in Memphis

In South Memphis, Tennessee, xAI’s Colossus supercomputer, built to push AI innovation, is causing a stir in the Boxtown community. This predominantly Black neighborhood, already burdened by industrial pollution, is grappling with new environmental and health challenges from the massive data center’s operations.

The main concern is xAI’s use of up to 35 methane gas turbines to power Colossus, which consumes 150 megawatts—enough for over 100,000 homes. These turbines, some run without Clean Air Act permits, emit nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, pollutants linked to asthma and cancer. South Memphis, with its poor air quality and high asthma rates, faces worsened health risks. Local activist KeShaun Pearson of Memphis Community Against Pollution has called the added pollution a “burden” on an already struggling community. Posts on X, like one from @Bizarro_Videos, highlight outrage over xAI’s failure to conduct an environmental impact study.

Additionally, Colossus uses at least one million gallons of water daily for cooling, straining local infrastructure, even if it relies on treated wastewater. xAI’s initial lack of transparency and community engagement has fueled distrust. While the company has begun removing some turbines and applied for permits in January 2025, residents and groups like the NAACP, as noted by @palamut62 on X, demand stronger action, calling Colossus a “dirty data center.”

Solutions exist. Moving data centers to less populated areas or exploring innovative ideas, like placing supercomputers in geosynchronous orbit to use solar power, could reduce harm. For now, Memphis residents seek accountability and cleaner practices to protect their health.