The NAACP is looking on native officers to halt operations at Colossus, the βsupercomputerβ facility operated by Elon Muskβs xAI in South Memphis.
As reported in NBC Information, leaders from the civil rights group despatched a letter Thursday to the Shelby County Well being Division and Memphis Mild Fuel and Water criticizing the organizationsβ βlackadaisical strategy to the operation of this soiled knowledge middleβ and calling on them to βchallenge an emergency order for xAI to cease operations utterlyβ β or if thereβs no order, to not less than cite and cease the corporate from allegedly violating clear air legal guidelines.
The letter expressed specific considerations across the fuel generators that xAI runs to energy Colossus. The corporate has utilized for a allow to proceed working 15 fuel generators on the facility, though the NAACP stated authorities have βallowed xAI to function not less than 35 fuel generators with none allowingβ over the previous 12 months. Metropolis officers have beforehand stated xAI didn’t want permits for the generatorsβ first 12 months of use.
These generators reportedly emit hazardous air pollution, together with formaldehyde, at ranges exceeding EPA limits. The NAACPβs letter additionally pointed to the generatorsβ nitrogen-oxide emissions.
Noting that the Colossus facility is situated close to South Memphisβ Boxtown neighborhood, which the letter described as a βtraditionally Black group,β the NAACP stated the situation perpetuates βthe development of industries including air pollution to communities who don’t trigger the issue.β
βAs an alternative of [the Shelby County Health Department] working to cut back well being points recognized within the space together with that most cancers dangers are already 4 occasions the nationwide common, it has allowed xAI to function above the legislation,β the NAACP added.
The NAACPβs letter is addressed to Shelby County Well being Division Director Michelle Taylor, in addition to Memphis Mild Fuel and Waterβs commissioners; Taylor is leaving her position in Shelby County to develop into the commissioner of the Baltimore Metropolis Well being Division.
Trendster has reached out to the NAACP and xAI for remark. A spokesperson for Memphis Mild Fuel and Water instructed NBC Information that it had not but acquired the NAACP letter.