Environmental justice advocates put Shelby County Health Department officials “on notice” Monday, demanding xAI’s air permit be revoked ahead of a hearing on the matter.
The Memphis and Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board is scheduled to hear arguments regarding the Southern Environmental Law Center’s (SELC) xAI permit appeal. Members of Young,Gifted, and Green (YGG) and other groups reaffirmed calls to rescind the permit during a virtual press conference on Monday.
“We’re not asking — not even demanding, but we’re taking justice and our rights to freedom not tomorrow, not next month, or even next year, but today,” LaTricea Adams, founder and president of Young,Gifted, and Green. “Allowing a business to pollute the air with NOx (nitrogen oxide) and formaldehyde for nearly one year with no permit or regulatory oversight is egregious.”
The permit was granted by SCHD in July, and gave xAI the permission to install 15 permanent natural gas turbines. These turbines would provide backup power for xAI’s data center in Memphis.
SELC filed the appeal in July on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Young, Gifted, and Green.
Adams called out the department for issuing the permit without assessing the risks for the community.
“We demand air permitting reform in Shelby County,” Adams said during the news conference. “We demand an end to sacrifice zones in Black communities, we demand humanity and dignity for Black people just like my ancestors.”
Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) along with the Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health will also release a report on threats to Memphis’ air quality.
“Chronic exposure to pollution is costing our families their quality of life and their life expectancy,” KeShaun Pearson, executive director of MCAP, said. “We should not be rewarding polluters — they should be reprimanded.”
Adams cited information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which showed South Memphis ranked above the national average for air pollution, polluted discharge, and health issues.
Earlier this year the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America designated Memphis as a “national asthma capital.” The American Lung Association also gave Shelby County an “F” for ozone pollution.
Adams said the county has consistently failed to meet national air quality requirements, and continues to welcome “polluters” that add to this issue. She called out the department for having Black leadership that neglects the wellbeing of a predominantly Black city.
Sarah Gladney, a member of the Boxtown community, said the neighborhood has been “overburdened by pollution for decades.” She said she and her neighbors won’t stop fighting against xAI.
“We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Gladney said. “We want to breathe clean air, and it is our right to breathe clean air.”
Southaven residents also advocated against the expansion of xAI into their city. A second Colossus center is located at the former Duke Energy facility there. The plant’s gas turbines have prompted noise pollution complaints from residents.
Shannon Samsa condemned the project for the same negligence observed at the Memphis plant such as lack of community input. She and residents have formed a coalition, Safe and Sound, to fight the operation of xAI.
“We’re demanding a full stop until independent, third-party, health and environmental impact studies are completed and publicly reviewed with true community input and oversight,” Samsa said.