xAI supercomputer emits hazardous substances

Elon Musk’s xAI company plans to continue using 15 gas turbines to power its “Colossus” supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, despite serious environmental concerns. According to documents obtained by The Commercial Appeal, the company has applied for permission to operate the turbines continuously from June 2025 to June 2030 with the Shelby County Health Department.

The situation is alarming environmentalists as the 20-year-old turbines emit hazardous pollutants, including formaldehyde, in quantities exceeding the EPA’s annual limit of 10 tons for a single source. According to the operating permit data, each turbine emits 11.51 tons of hazardous substances per year, significantly exceeding permissible standards.

Of particular concern is the fact that about 22,000 people live within a five-mile zone of the facility. According to Eric Hilt, a representative of the Southern Environmental Law Center, the turbines have been operating since summer 2024 without public notification or oversight, and the submitted permits do not account for these emissions.

“This is another example of a company not being transparent with the community and local authorities,” Hilt stated in an interview with The Commercial Appeal.

The Health Department reported that the permits have not yet been approved, and “there are no established timelines for their approval.” This situation raises important questions about the balance between artificial intelligence technology development and environmental safety, as well as the need for stricter control over technology companies’ activities.