NAACP Petitions for Urgent Halting of Musk's Memphis Supercomputer Operation

NAACP Petitions for Urgent Halting of Musk's Memphis Supercomputer Operation

U.S. NEWS: Elon Musk's Supercomputer Project Under Fire for Environmental Concerns

Times are tough in South Memphis as residents and the NAACP raise the alarm over Elon Musk's supercomputer project.

In an open letter to local authorities, the NAACP has called for an immediate stop to the project, accusing it of flouting environmental rules. The target of their ire: Elon Musk's xAI, who's setting up shop in the heart of South Memphis.

The civil rights group, led by Derrick Johnson, believes that the world's richest man isn't above polluting Black communities and endangering their health. In a bitter response to NBC News, Johnson stated, "Being the world's richest man doesn't give you the right to pollute Black communities and jeopardize the health of its residents."

The health department, responsible for implementing federal air regulations in Shelby County, has yet to respond. Meanwhile, Memphis Light Gas and Water, another recipient of the letter, is keeping tight-lipped too.

xAI, in a previous statement, maintained that its operations comply with all applicable laws. However, the project has come under scrutiny lately for powering its monster supercomputer, Colossus, using methane gas turbines. These steamy beasts emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, causing unease among the residents.

While environmental groups and the NAACP demand permits under the Clean Air Act, the city's health department, the mayor, and the Chamber of Commerce contend that the turbines didn't need permits for their first year of operation. xAI, now seeking a permit for 15 permanent turbines, promises these will be equipped with pollution controls and will only be turned on once other energy sources are exhausted.

Residents living near the xAI facility can barely breathe easy. Easter Knox, a resident since 1977, shares their concerns. Struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, she fears the pollution will only make her condition worse. Health department officials have been cautious in their comments regarding the project, but recent news reveals that its head, Dr. Michelle Taylor, will soon be leaving Shelby County to oversee the Baltimore City Health Department.

As theregulators grapple with the issue, critics raise concerns about the environmental cost of innovation. The NAACP asserted in their letter, "While we applaud research and innovation, there must be limits that ensure that communities are healthy and alive to enjoy the benefits of any potential innovation."

The Shelby County health officials are due to make a decision on xAI's application in the coming weeks. Memphis Mayor Paul Young has promised to implement air monitoring into the project to ensure community safety in the future.

[1] https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/industries/energy/2023/04/06/xai-elon-musks-supercomputing-center-memphis-community-health-environment/70447843007/[2] https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/human-impact/Content?oid=27927362[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/naacp-calls-shut-down-elon-musks- computing-center-south-memphis-fearing-health-risks-n1347981[4] https://www.greenbiz.com/article/elon-musks-supercomputer-proves-cost-community-health-experts-say

1. In light of Elon Musk's supercomputer project in South Memphis, the potential risks to the environment and public health have been a subject of debate in general-news outlets, with various parties questioning the technology's impact on the environment, specifically the use of methane gas turbines in powering the supercomputer, Colossus.
2. As the scientific community continues to push boundaries with technological advancements, the importance of ensuring the safeguarding of the environment, particularly in environmental-science, has never been more crucial, especially when it comes to projects like Elon Musk's supercomputer center in South Memphis.

Read also: