In South Memphis, Tennessee, residents are raising alarms—not about the future of technology, but about the quality of the air they breathe.
It all started when Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, rolled into town with a mission to power cutting-edge supercomputers.
But along with innovation came pollution, and now locals say they’re the ones paying the price—with their health.
AI Supercomputers May Be Advancing, but the Air Is Getting Worse
Since xAI set up shop in South Memphis about a year ago, the community has seen a worrying spike in emergency room visits for asthma.
Locals say it’s gotten harder to breathe, and data seems to back them up.
The facility, which operates 35 methane gas turbines, reportedly lacks basic pollution control systems required by federal law.
Despite being one of Shelby County’s largest emitters of nitrogen oxides (NOx)—a key contributor to smog—the facility has yet to secure Clean Air Act permits.
According to Politico, none of the turbines are equipped with federally mandated emissions controls.
The Numbers Are Staggering, and the Community Is Feeling It
The turbines are estimated to release between 1,200 to 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides annually.
That’s significantly more than nearby gas or oil facilities, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center.
And Memphis was already struggling with poor air quality before xAI arrived—the city was ranked as the asthma capital of the U.S. in 2024.
Even areas like Boxtown, located just a few miles away, are being overwhelmed by toxic pollution from both xAI and 17 other industrial sites.
The situation has gotten so bad that the area is now registered with the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory.
Residents Speak Out with Frustration and Fear
Local residents are voicing their outrage and heartbreak.
At a recent public hearing, one woman tearfully held up her inhaler and asked, “How come I can’t breathe at home and y’all get to breathe at home?”
Many say the pollution is robbing them of their basic right to live safely in their own neighborhoods.
Rep. Justin Pearson, speaking at a protest, didn’t mince words: “They put our lungs and our air on the auction block and sold us to the richest man in the world.”
Permits Still Pending, But Pollution Rolls On
xAI has only recently applied for permits for 15 of the turbines it plans to keep permanently.
But environmental experts are calling foul. According to Bruce Buckheit, a former director of EPA air enforcement, running the turbines before securing permits is a violation of the Clean Air Act.
The company’s defense?
That most of the turbines are “temporary” and therefore exempt from federal permitting.
But environmental groups say that’s a convenient loophole being exploited at the community’s expense.
A Dubious Pattern of Environmental Disregard
This isn’t Musk’s first brush with environmental criticism.
Tesla has faced dozens of air quality violations. SpaceX and The Boring Company have also been fined for environmental issues in Texas.
Now, with xAI’s Memphis operation under fire, many are questioning the company’s overall commitment to health and environmental safety.
Disputed Claims and Aerial Evidence
Officials say only 15 turbines are currently running, while others are on standby.
However, recent aerial images with thermal sensors tell a different story—showing that 33 turbines appear to be in operation, all giving off significant heat, which indicates active energy production and emissions.
Residents Want Change Before It’s Too Late
The people of Memphis are tired.
They’re tired of feeling like collateral damage in the race for AI dominance.
“He may be a millionaire, a billionaire—whatever kind of ‘aire’ he is—but what we need here is clean air,” said Easter Mayo Knox, a 74-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
As xAI continues to expand, even leasing new land for more power infrastructure, residents just want to breathe freely in their own homes again.