Joseph Mangin, at The Daily Memphian:
The nonprofit announced plans to install two different models of air-quality sensors in the Memphis area with a focus on the 38109 ZIP code, which includes Boxtown, where the press conference was held.
MCAP’s Wednesday event follows air-quality testing carried out by the City of Memphis. The testing was a response to concerns about pollutants stemming from xAI’s supercomputer.
That testing showed no dangerous pollution, but concerns were raised over the testing protocol used.
Back to Mangin:
He said while the Shelby County Health Department was supporting the initiative, both the city and county governments have yet to provide funds.
This news comes the same that day xAI was granted an air emissions permit (PDF here) for 15 turbines at its first Memphis site, as Samuel Hardiman reports:
The Shelby County Health Department has granted xAI an air emissions permit to operate 15 natural gas turbines as a backup power source for its Southwest Memphis data center.
The health department posted the permit on its website on Wednesday, July 2. The permit is effective as of Wednesday and expires on Jan. 2, 2027.
The air emissions permit was granted despite widespread community opposition to the turbines. The health department received more than 1,000 public comments on the project.
These turbines have been running for over 300 days while xAI waited on the permit.
xAI commented, via a provided statement:
xAI welcomes today’s decision by the Shelby County Health Department. Our onsite power generation will be equipped with state-of-the-art emissions control technology, making this facility the lowest emitting of its kind in the country. We look forward to being a valued partner to the Memphis Community for years to come.
There is evidence that more turbines than this 15 are spinning, and that xAI will use additional turbines at its second site. A month ago, the Shelby County Health Department responded to that evidence, which was spearheaded by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). In a letter dated June 2, the department wrote:
The majority of the SELC comments focus primarily on the temporary turbine engines that will soon be removed from the site, not the permanent turbines associated with the air construction permit. SELC asserts in varying degrees that granting the air construction permit will improperly allow the temporary turbine engines on site to continue operating indefinitely. The draft permit under review will ensure that CTC will be authorized to construct and operate only 15 permanent turbines at the facility.
I have asked xAI for any new comment concerning additional turbines beyond the 15 covered by today’s permit, and will report back if they get back with me.