U.S. Reps. AOC, Ayanna Pressley and Summer Lee join Rep. Pearson to call for data center oversight

U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Ayanna Pressley, and Summer Lee visited Memphis, Tennessee, joining State Representative Justin J. Pearson to advocate for stricter oversight of data centers. Their visit brought renewed attention to concerns about xAI's facility in Southwest Memphis.

The group toured areas surrounding the xAI data center, subsequently hearing from local residents who reported experiencing breathing problems and other health issues. Representative Pearson emphasized the need to protect neighborhoods from pollution, calling for an immediate moratorium on the construction of future data centers until adequate safeguards are established. He also highlighted concerns about data centers consuming local fresh drinking water for cooling, while arguing they replace local jobs.

Pearson stated his desire for legislative action at all governmental levels to address these issues. In response, xAI has publicly maintained that it is collaborating with regulatory bodies and has already implemented measures to mitigate environmental impacts associated with its Memphis operations.