Whitehaven blindsided by newly revealed xAI data center
Whitehaven residents in Memphis, Tennessee, were blindsided by Elon Musk's announcement of a new xAI data center, Minihard, adding to existing projects in their neighborhood. This revelation has renewed community concerns about noise, traffic, pollution, and a lack of transparency from both the company and local leadership. Community advocates are calling for city and county officials to enact regulations to control data center development.
Residents of Whitehaven, a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, expressed shock and frustration after Elon Musk announced a fourth xAI data center, dubbed "Minihard," was taking shape in their area. This comes as two other xAI facilities, Macrohard and Macroharder, are already under construction along Tulane Road.
Community members like Jennice Peters voiced concerns over transparency, stating they were "blindsided" by the news of the additional facility. Ongoing construction has already led to complaints about constant noise, and residents fear increased traffic and potential safety hazards. Environmental advocates, including Keshaun Pearson of Memphis Communities Against Pollution and Latricea D. Adams of Young, Gifted & Green, criticized city and county leadership for not implementing legislation to regulate or slow down the data center projects, citing pollution concerns. Residents emphasized their desire for local officials to allow them more opportunities to voice their opinions on developments impacting their neighborhood. FOX13 reached out to the Mayor's Office for comment but received no response.