State Rep. Justin J. Pearson spoke near xAI data center Friday
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson spoke in Memphis, Tennessee, near an xAI data center, raising concerns about its environmental and health impacts. He highlighted increased health issues attributed to emissions and called for a moratorium on data center development from the Memphis City Council to the U.S. Congress, citing water usage and job displacement.
Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson addressed the media on Friday outside an xAI data center in Memphis, Tennessee, to voice serious concerns regarding the facility's impact on the local community. Rep. Pearson alleged that the data center's operations, particularly the emission of nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde, are causing significant environmental damage and leading to a rise in health issues among residents, including increased emergency room visits for children and a higher incidence of cancer.
Citing research from Harvard professors, Pearson claimed that dozens of people in the area are projected to die prematurely due to the combined effects of "three plants operating by Elon Musk and Anthropic." He emphasized the urgent need to prioritize human lives over industrial development.
Rep. Pearson issued a strong call for a moratorium on data center construction, advocating for action from both the Memphis City Council and the United States Congress. He criticized data centers for consuming fresh drinking water for cooling and for potentially displacing local jobs, framing the issue as a conflict between the "billionaire class" and working-class communities in areas like Boxtown, Westwood, and Lewisburg.