As a long-time environmental advocate and gamer who values both technological advancements and a clean planet, I find myself deeply concerned about Elon Musk’s xAI project. Having witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of unchecked industrial growth on our environment, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the news that xAI is operating gas turbines without proper permits, contributing to Memphis’ already poor air quality.
It seems that Elon Musk’s xAI operation consumes significant power and it’s been reported that the AI startup has been relying on gas turbines to handle this energy need. However, according to environmental activist groups, these gas turbines have been operating without a necessary permit, thus worsening Memphis’ already poor air quality.
On August 28, 2024, as reported by CNBC, the Southern Environmental Law Center wrote a letter to the health department in Shelby County, urging officials to examine xAI over their alleged usage of non-approved gas turbines within their data center.
The agency is alleging that Elon Musk’s xAI contributes to Memphis’ existing air pollution issues, as it currently holds an F-level air quality rating. The letter mentions that the AI company has set up at least 18 gas combustion turbines and could potentially install more in the future.
1. The letter continues by mentioning that the gas turbines release nitrogen oxide, contributing to the air quality in Shelby County. Amanda Garcia, a senior lawyer at Tennessee’s Southern Environmental Law Center, expressed her concern to CNBC, stating, “The main issue is that there has been minimal transparency and limited public participation regarding the xAI project.” (Note: I have changed ‘office’ to ‘lawyer at’ for better readability)
As per the agency’s report, these turbines can emit approximately 130 metric tons of nitrogen oxide yearly. Remarkably, their power is equivalent to supporting around 50,000 households with electricity. However, xAI has opted to channel this energy towards running its AI models that are currently using 100,000 Nvidia H100 processors instead.
It appears that the Shelby County Health Department lacks the ability to intervene with regards to these turbines at this time. The CNBC article concludes by explaining that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating companies using stationary gas-burning turbines, and they can take action once the turbines have been in a fixed location for over a year. Since these turbines are mobile and have only recently arrived, the Shelby County Health Department does not currently hold the necessary permitting authority.
Lately, it’s been claimed that Elon Musk diverted a shipment of Nvidia AI chips destined for Tesla towards his new project, xAI. This reported action could have caused a delay in $500 million worth of AI chips for Tesla, as per CNBC. According to Musk, these chips would have otherwise been idle in storage. Stay tuned on our xAI page for updates about Elon Musk’s latest venture.
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2024-08-29 05:27