Press Mention Action News 5 November 5, 2024
SACE Quoted
Elon Musk’s 150-megawatt request—Will the TVA board approve the billionaire’s electricity demands?
In this mention
The TVA board met on November 7, 2024, to consider xAI's request for 150 megawatts of electricity to power a supercomputer facility in Memphis. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, criticized the rapid pace of the project and lack of community engagement, while environmental groups raised concerns about grid stress, aquifer impacts, and pollution in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
The problem is that Elon Musk is asking for this to be done at an extraordinarily rapid rate with very little commitment to citizens and community engagement.
Stephen A. Smith
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Full transcript
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) -Flipping the switch to give Elon Musk's supercomputer in Memphis more power.
The TVA board meets on November 7 to consider xAI's request for 150 megawatts of electricity to run the world's biggest "Gigafactory of Compute."
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federal agency that provides power to MLGW. Any request beyond 100MW requires TVA approval. Right now, MLGW is providing 50MW to the xAI building, pending the TVA's decision.
Environmental groups worry about the supercomputer's demand on the electrical grid, the aquifer that provides the area's drinking water and Memphians' health.
Elon Musk, riding high from Donald Trump's election night victory, one he worked hard to secure, will find out Thursday if the TVA grants his company's request for 150MW of electricity to power the supercomputer inside the old Electrolux factory in Southwest Memphis.
"I think Musk has increased his influence within the federal government," said Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
In an op-ed piece Wednesday, the group urged TVA and Musk to take Memphis' environmental health seriously.
"The problem," said Smith, "is that Elon Musk is asking for this to be done at an extraordinarily rapid rate with very little commitment to citizens and community engagement."
In July, multiple environmental groups including Memphis Community Against Pollution asked TVA to deny xAI's power request.
"Do your due diligence," said MCAP Executive Director KeShaun Pearson, "as it pertains to the environmental aspects. How is this going to affect human life, and how is this going to affect our ecosystem?"
150MW is enough to power more than 100,000 homes. Critics worry about the stress on MLGW's electric grid, and the impact on the aquifer since computer servers need lots of water to stay cool
The 18 natural gas turbine engines currently being used to supplement power right now are another pollution concern for the predominantly black neighborhoods near the facility.
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said, "Construction and other activities at Musk's facility should be stopped until the community is given a voice," even though the group realizes the chances of that happening are slim to none.
"He's a billionaire," said Smith, "He's used to getting his way. He's used to ramming things through, and he has the resources to do it."
The positives of the supercomputer include new jobs, and Memphis makes its mark as a tech leader. Musk's team also plans to build a greywater facility that turns wastewater into usable water to cool the computers.
The TVA board meets at 9:00 a.m. Thursday. Action News 5 will bring you the board's decision on-air and online.