MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The leader of the largest utility provider in Shelby County is responding to

a letter

that three NAACP members addressed to the utility and health department, urging them to shut down the xAI data center in South Memphis.

Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) CEO Doug McGowen claims that the letter, dated Thursday, May 29, was never actually sent to the MLGW Board of Commissioners before it was broadcast to the media.

The NAACP is just one of several organizations that has publicly shared concerns of health-jeopardizing operations at the facility.


RELATED — Emotions run high at SCHD town hall on xAI environmental concerns

Those against the operation want the health department to put a stop to xAI’s controversial use of gas turbines to power it.

The letter from NAACP claims that Elon Musk’s “Colossus” supercomputer has been running 35 gas turbines without permits, violating clean air laws in a historically-Black neighborhood already dealing with cancer risks four times the national average.

The group also accuses MLGW and health department officials of ignoring public concerns and “allowing” xAI to pollute the area without transparency or accountability.

But McGowen says that these are “baseless claims,” adding that “even a modicum of due diligence would reflect that MLGW has been extremely communicative” with the public about this project.

The NAACP demanded that MLGW and SCHD conduct a full investigation of xAI’s operations, issue penalties for permit violations, and declare an emergency shutdown to protect the community’s health.

But McGowen says MLGW is obligated by law to provide utilities to anyone in its service territory “in a non-discriminatory manner,” something he says he thinks the NAACP would understand.

McGowen says MLGW is not “allowing” the use of these turbines, “because we are not responsible for permitting their use.”

He explains that “xAI’s use of turbines, or other power sources such as solar or battery,… is wholly a business decision of xAI.”

McGowen requests that the letter’s authors issue an apology for the “inflammatory claims” against MLGW, which he says were “unnecessary and frankly beneath your organization.”

McGowen’s full response can be read in full below:




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