Elon MuskXAI AI has been granted a permit to operate methane generators at the huge data center in Memphis, Tennessee. The Ministry of Health in the province agreed to the 15th machinery permit late on Wednesday, a move that sparked a cry from the local community and environmental leaders, who say that the generators are polluting their neighborhoods.
“Our local leaders are charged with protecting us from companies that violate our right to clean air, but we are witnessing their failure to do so,” said Keshonda Pearson, director of the local non -profit Memphis community. pollution.
Xai has established the huge data center in Memphis almost a year ago. To complete the use of heavy energy in the facility, the company brought dozens of portable methane generators. xi He had no permission for the generatorsWhich requires the municipality’s approval to publish, but it seems that it has found a vulnerability in the system that allowed it to use the turbines as long as it was not on the same site for more than 364 days.
In January, Xai applied for a permit to 15 generators-although she was working up to 35 births on the site, according to the photos. After months of General forums and community protestsThe Ministry of Health issued Shilby Province Allow. Satial photo by Memphis society against pollution on Tuesday and participated with the Guardian showing at least 24 turbines still at the Xai facility.
“XAI welcomes today’s decision,” a company spokesman said in a statement. “Energy generation on the site will be equipped with modern emissions technology, making this facility the lowest emission of its kind in the country.”
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Environmental groups exceed whether to use Xai power will actually be low. The Center for Southern Environmental Law conducted studies on pollution that the turbines are emitting from them and say that it has the ability to emote thousands of tons of harmful nitrogen oxides, as well as toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.
Amanda Garcia, the first lawyer at the Center for Southern Environment, said: “The decision to grant XAI an air permit for contaminated gas turbines fly against hundreds of exiles who spoke against the company’s permit request,” said Amanda Garcia, the first lawyer at the Southern Environment Center Center. She added that the Ministry of Health allows “another pollutor to create a store in this already burdened society without appropriate protection.”
Xai is located in the industrial zone of Memphis, which is surrounded by many neighborhoods in which the population has been dealt with for a long time. This region is historically black and has higher rates of respiratory and asthma diseases, and the expected life is expected from other parts of the city. Studies have shown that these neighborhoods also have a risk of cancer Four times higher than the national average.
The pollution that comes out of Xai, along with its proximity to black neighborhoods, has the attention of the Naac Civil Rights Group. A lawsuit against Xai claimed that the company violates the clean air law by installing and operating methane generators illegally.
“While NAACP is happy because 15 XAI turbines are now subject to greater stability and accountability about their methane gas emissions … this decision ignores the spread of society,” said Eraram Conner, director of environmental justice and climate at NAACP, in the statement on Thursday. “We are still committed to the accountability of Xai and the Ministry of Health.”
