Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI plans to proceed the use of 15 gasoline generators to energy its “Colossus” supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, in keeping with an working allow with the Shelby County Well being Division for continuous turbine use from June 2025 to June 2030.
Why does it subject? The Business Enchantment, a information outlet that received the paperwork, observes that environmental issues have emerged, because the 20-year-old generators emit hazardous air pollution (HAP), together with formaldehyde, at ranges exceeding the EPA’s 10-ton annual cap for a unmarried supply. (In step with the tale, the power’s working allow self-reports that the generators each and every emit 11.51 lots of HAP in keeping with yr.)
The generators have already been operating since summer season 2024 with out public understand or oversight, says Eric Hilt, a spokesperson with Southern Environmental Regulation Middle, the huge environmental nonprofit group, and the lets in don’t account for the ones emissions.
“It’s some other instance of the corporate now not being clear with the neighborhood or with native leaders,” Hilt tells The Business Enchantment.
The well being division tells the opening the lets in have now not but been licensed, and there may be “no set timeline for approval.”
