Air quality tests around xAI’s Memphis data center raise questions

Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis, powered by natural gas turbines, has sparked concerns among local residents about potential air pollution. In response, the City of Memphis conducted air quality tests at three locations near the facility—downtown Memphis, Whitehaven, and Boxtown—on June 13 and 16. The results, released by the city, indicated that levels of the ten pollutants tested were not dangerous. However, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing the NAACP, criticized the testing for omitting ozone (smog), a significant pollutant, and for methodological issues such as placing monitors directly against buildings, which could affect accuracy. The testing was limited in scope and duration, with sampling equipment running for 10 to 13 hours on days when wind patterns were unlikely to carry pollutants from the data center to the test sites. Formaldehyde was detected downtown but remained within urban norms. The SELC's concerns highlight potential gaps in the testing approach, particularly