Latest news with #Colossus
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLGW calls NAACP claims ‘patently false,' requests apology
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Light Gas & Water responded Monday to the NAACP, which claimed last week that xAI's operations in southwest Memphis are endangering the health of nearby residents. A letter sent by NAACP to both MLGW and the county health department accused those entities of looking the other way as xAI ran gas turbines to help power its Colossus supercomputer in southwest Memphis, and of violating open meetings laws. NAACP pens letter calling for end of xAI supercomputer The response letter sent Monday by MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen says those claims are 'patently false.' McGowen says MLGW has no role in approving the use of gas turbines and undertook an impact study to ensure that the xAI facility would not impact service to other utility customers. City officials including the mayor have previously said the number of gas turbines at the site was lower than what environmental groups claimed, and on May 6, the chamber of commerce announced the turbines would be removed. McGowen's letter went on to request an apology from the civil rights organization over what it called 'baseless, inflammatory claims.' Read the letter below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI's ‘dirty data center'
The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the 'supercomputer' facility operated by Elon Musk's xAI in South Memphis. As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations' 'lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center' and calling on them to 'issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely' — or if there's no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws. The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have 'allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting' over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines' first year of use. These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP's letter also pointed to the turbines' nitrogen-oxide emissions. Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis' Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a 'historically Black community,' the NAACP said the location perpetuates 'the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.' 'Instead of [the Shelby County Health Department] working to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,' the NAACP added. The NAACP's letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water's commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI's ‘dirty data center'
The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the 'supercomputer' facility operated by Elon Musk's xAI in South Memphis. As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations' 'lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center' and calling on them to 'issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely' — or if there's no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws. The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have 'allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting' over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines' first year of use. These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP's letter also pointed to the turbines' nitrogen-oxide emissions. Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis' Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a 'historically Black community,' the NAACP said the location perpetuates 'the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.' 'Instead of [the Shelby County Health Department] working to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,' the NAACP added. The NAACP's letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water's commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter. Sign in to access your portfolio
TechCrunch
2 days ago
- Health
- TechCrunch
NAACP calls on Memphis officials to halt operations at xAI's ‘dirty data center'
The NAACP is calling on local officials to halt operations at Colossus, the 'supercomputer' facility operated by Elon Musk's xAI in South Memphis. As reported in NBC News, leaders from the civil rights group sent a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water criticizing the organizations' 'lackadaisical approach to the operation of this dirty data center' and calling on them to 'issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely' — or if there's no order, to at least cite and stop the company from allegedly violating clean air laws. The letter expressed particular concerns around the gas turbines that xAI runs to power Colossus. The company has applied for a permit to continue operating 15 gas turbines at the facility, although the NAACP said authorities have 'allowed xAI to operate at least 35 gas turbines without any permitting' over the past year. City officials have previously said xAI did not need permits for the turbines' first year of use. These turbines reportedly emit hazardous air pollutants, including formaldehyde, at levels exceeding EPA limits. The NAACP's letter also pointed to the turbines' nitrogen-oxide emissions. Noting that the Colossus facility is located near South Memphis' Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a 'historically Black community,' the NAACP said the location perpetuates 'the trend of industries adding pollution to communities who do not cause the problem.' 'Instead of [the Shelby County Health Department] working to reduce health issues known in the area including that cancer risks are already four times the national average, it has allowed xAI to operate above the law,' the NAACP added. The NAACP's letter is addressed to Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor, as well as Memphis Light Gas and Water's commissioners; Taylor is leaving her role in Shelby County to become the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW TechCrunch has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for comment. A spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water told NBC News that it had not yet received the NAACP letter.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NAACP calls for emergency shutdown of Musk's supercomputer in Memphis
Local regulators should immediately stop Elon Musk's supercomputer project from operating in South Memphis because it's out of compliance with environmental rules, the NAACP wrote in a letter sent Thursday to Shelby County officials. The civil rights group addressed the request to Dr. Michelle Taylor, director of the Shelby County Health Department, and to the commissioners of Memphis Light Gas and Water. The health department is responsible for implementing federal air regulations in Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis. 'Being the world's richest man doesn't give you the right to pollute Black communities and jeopardize the health of its residents,' NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement to NBC News. 'We urge the health department to step in immediately.' When contacted, a spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water said it had not received the NAACP letter and could not comment on it. Neither the health department nor xAI immediately responded to questions about the letter, which was also signed by the presidents of the Tennessee and Memphis chapters of the NAACP. In a previous statement to NBC News, xAI said its "operations comply with all applicable laws' and that it 'works collaboratively with County and City officials, EPA personnel, and community leaders regarding all things that affect Memphis.' xAI has come under scrutiny in recent months for operating methane gas turbines at its Memphis facility to meet the electricity needs of the supercomputer Colossus. The turbines emit pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, according to their manufacturer. Environmental groups and the NAACP believe the turbines required permits under the Clean Air Act; the city's health department, the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce have said permits were not required for the turbines' first year of use. xAI, which is now seeking a permit for 15 permanent turbines, said those would be equipped with pollution controls and only be used as backup once other energy options are available. Earlier this month, NBC News reported on a South Memphis neighborhood called Boxtown, about two miles from xAI's facility, where residents are concerned that Musk's project will harm the area's already poor air quality. 'They got money. And they can do what they want to do, you know, without consulting us,' said Easter Knox, who has lived in the area since 1977. Knox told NBC News she and her husband both struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can be exacerbated by pollution. Health department officials have been limited in their comments about the project. On Friday, news broke that Taylor, the department head, would be leaving Shelby County to oversee the Baltimore City Health Department. Colossus, which xAI calls the world's largest supercomputer, came online in September 2024 to train Grok, the company's chatbot. But critics say the project's potential economic benefit to the community is outweighed by environmental concerns. 'While we applaud research and innovation,' the NAACP letter states, 'there must be limits that ensure that communities are healthy and alive to enjoy the benefits of any potential innovation.' Shelby County health officials are expected to make a decision on xAI's application in the coming weeks. Memphis Mayor Paul Young previously told NBC's "Nightly News" that the city plans to work with a researcher to implement air monitoring in the months ahead. This article was originally published on
