People Living Near xAI’s Dirty Data Centers Are Pissed About the SpaceX IPO

Key Points:

• SpaceX is set to go public with a valuation above $1.75 trillion, aiming to raise funds for its AI projects, including expanding data centers rapidly.
• Local communities in Memphis, where xAI data centers operate, are protesting due to pollution from unpermitted natural gas turbines and halted water treatment facility construction, citing health risks like asthma and heart issues.
• Environmental groups, including the NAACP, have filed lawsuits against xAI for installing turbines without permits and endangering public health, while residents have also initiated a class-action lawsuit over construction disturbances.
• Despite generating significant tax revenue for Shelby County, community members argue that funds are insufficient to address the environmental and health damages caused by the data centers' operations.
• SpaceX continues to add unpermitted turbines and has paused water reuse facility construction ahead of the IPO, raising concerns about transparency and regulatory compliance amid ongoing legal challenges.