Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer facility in Memphis has ignited a fierce environmental justice battle, with residents and civil rights groups accusing the tech magnate of perpetuating 'environmental racism' by situating and operating a massive AI data centre that allegedly pollutes predominantly Black neighbourhoods without adequate oversight.
In the industrial corridor of South Memphis, the tension that once lay dormant over decades of air quality woes has erupted into legal threats and community-led protests. The controversy centres on xAI's Colossus facility and its use of methane-powered gas turbines, which critics say release hazardous emissions in neighbourhoods already burdened by smog, asthma and cancer risks.
