On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Is Elon Musk’s supercomputer polluting Memphis?
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Sep 24, 2025 Keyshawn Pearson, an environmental justice advocate, discusses the serious health impacts of Elon Musk's supercomputer, Colossus, in Memphis. Sam Hardiman sheds light on the permitting loopholes and economic claims surrounding the facility, while Vijay Gadepoli highlights the broader energy challenges facing data centers nationwide. The conversation emphasizes community concerns over pollution, economic promises, and the need for meaningful dialogue to ensure local voices are heard amidst rapid technological advancements.
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Speed Drove Site Selection
- XAI built Colossus in Memphis to deploy massive compute quickly using an existing Electrolux building.
- Speed and ready infrastructure outweighed local grid constraints in the company's site choice.
Boxtown's Deep Roots And Neglect
- Keyshawn Pearson described Boxtown as a resilient freedmen community with long neglect by city services.
- He said pollution from Colossus reaches beyond a mile and impacts the whole region.
Concentrated Pollution In Southwest Memphis
- Southwest Memphis hosts many toxic facilities and bears disproportionate air pollution burdens.
- Keyshawn said over 90% of particular matter in the county is concentrated there, showing environmental injustice.