The rapid growth of AI technology, the associated data centers, and how they source the electricity they need to meet large-scale electricity needs are one of the hottest topics of discussion in the energy space for a year.
Many people like me have been making long comments on the logistics and technical issues involved in this rapidly growing industry, but few have thought about the role that both class politics and radical activism inevitably play.
In recent weeks, examples of true poster child-like examples of how activism is cynical and often dishonest can be threatened through the fact that these logistical and technical issues were born in Memphis, Tennessee. xaithe major data centers are run by a high-tech company responsible for creating and maintaining Grok AI tools featured in X, owned by Elon Musk.
Xai has while waiting to be connected to a local power grid managed by the Tennessee Valley Station (TVA) Get Unique behind the scenes power from a suite of portable natural gas generators. (Related: NAACP blames Musk for putting black communities at risk with supercomputer smoke)
From a logistical and technical perspective, the use of clean and reliable gas production presents a completely reasonable solution to increasingly common problems as the queues of grid interconnections continue to expand across the country. But in the case of conflict groups, it presents an opening to raise funds based on irony related to climate change, climate justice, and often on the basis of falsehoods.
Memphis Government and Zai City It’s been criticized There have been horror stories published over the last few weeks Southern Environmental Law Center(SELC) and, seriously, other conflict groups that lead them to believe that an environmental catastrophe is happening.
However, as demonstrated by both Memphis Mayor Paul Young and local power provider MLGW, most claims are unfounded in reality.
Powerful Guest column On June 12, Mayor Young, published by the Memphis Commercial Appeals newspaper, refuted point-by-point on some of the most blatant false claims made by the project’s opponents, saying he “continue to choose between fear, solutions to soundbites, and advances to performance’s ultraj.”
Mayor Young supported the position that Xai Solutions are safe and clean by commissioning emissions research by independent companies. the study, Released on June 24thwe can see that we cannot measure dangerous levels of contaminants. As expected, SELC responded in a classic misdirection and denounced the study for failing to test ozone. The question is that the research has measured volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants that actually produce ozone.
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In itself, MLGW I sent a letter In response to the group’s allegations made in a letter dated May 25, 2025 to the NAACP, who has been working with the SELC, “You have condemned this usefulness for liability for insidious conduct and violated the laws of public meetings. This tone and unfounded inflammatory claims regarding MLGW are unnecessary and frankly speaking under your organization.”
It is important to note here that MLGW provides 150 MW of power to Xai’s site. However, Xai’s power needs for unit 1 in the facility are much larger than that, and the 24/7 power generation needs cannot be met using wind and solar power facilities. Therefore, the company has devised a low-emission, environmentally responsible solution by working in partnership with local officials and regulators to secure natural gas turbines. It’s not even illegal or careless about it.
What we’re seeing in Memphis is a preview of what the future is increasingly visible as they continue to expand rapidly, along with AI and other major technological advances and the power-hungry data centers associated with them. Dispute groups like Climate Alarmists and SELC always work to harness these situations for their own funding efforts, but in the end, economic and energy reality consistently win more than fake narratives.
David Blackmon is an energy writer and consultant based in Texas. He spent 40 years in the oil and gas business, where he specialised in public policy and communication.
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