Climate One ENCORE: AI’s Power Demands: Do We Really Have the Energy for This?
Jul 25, 2025
KeShaun Pearson, Executive Director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, shares insights on environmental justice in industrial neighborhoods. Kate Brandt, Google's Chief Sustainability Officer, discusses the pressing energy demands of AI and strides toward sustainability. Irina Raicu, an expert in ethics, raises ethical questions around AI's environmental impact. Together, they explore how to balance technological advancement with community health and the urgent need for corporate accountability in AI's ecological effects.
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Growing Up in Polluted Memphis
- Keyshawn Pearson shared his experience growing up in Southwest Memphis, a community closely tied despite environmental challenges.
- He emphasized the strong family-like bonds despite living near pollution sources like refineries.
Community Surprised by XAI Data Center
- XAI's data center sprang up quickly in Southwest Memphis, surprising locals including Pearson.
- He felt disappointment and concern over potential pollution without adequate protections.
Power Claims vs. Community Reality
- Memphis utilities claim capacity for the data center's power demand, but local resilience is lacking.
- Pearson stressed the community suffers most from grid strain and rate increases, not corporations.