Were xAI’s turbines legal? Let’s look at the records
Shelby County asked EPA to put its 364-day turbine rule in writing. EPA asked the county for a list of the machines. The record shows neither answer arriving.
Who told EPA that xAI’s turbines need a permit? The turbine industry did.
The companies that build portable gas turbines told EPA that machines like the ones at xAI's sites need air permits. Shelby County and Mississippi told the public the opposite. The industry's own lawyer put it in writing.
Did the University of Memphis just settle the xAI air fight?
The study told the council pollution mostly went down. Its own limitations slide says there are no field monitoring data for Southwest Memphis at all.
How did 68 of xAI’s turbines get into Mississippi with no permit?
Memphis fought about the turbines it could see. A bigger power plant went up seven tenths of a mile away on one email - and the agency that said yes told me it hadn't been out to look.
An update on the air around xAI’s Colossus 1
The Shelby County Health Department's first statement on the South Memphis air monitor, what EPA's own grant file says instead, and the road the mayor paused.
Who pays for xAI’s power?
Sixteen data centers, a 1.28 million gallon cap, a $152 million check to TVA, and 15 orders to cut back - what MLGW's CEO told the council, and what the records say.
xAI’s Tesla Megapacks sit over the aquifer. Shelby County never planned for them.
The xAI files Every essay in this series is pinned to a question on the board at rachelandthecity.com/the-xai-files. UPDATE, October 19th: A small correction. The plan’s table of contents lists five hazards, but only four are written up - flooding, severe weather, extreme heat and cold, and earthquake. The disease section is listed but never…
The Latest on the Data Center Moratorium
Twelve months, no new data center permits. The council's own attorney named two ways the pause could end early, and nobody will sign the survey going around.
xAI is hiring for positions that should have been filled already
The xAI files Every essay in this series is pinned to a question on the board at rachelandthecity.com/the-xai-files. Independent outlets have covered the Megapacks as hardware and the turbine issues - but I have not found anyone that has written about the battery safety, fire-oversight gap - except me. I’ll circle back soon and explain…
Elon Musk is just Elon Musking - who is actually in charge of stopping him?
The xAI files · the introduction Every essay in this series is pinned to a question on the board at rachelandthecity.com/the-xai-files. And for my next trick… Introducing my new daily series - THE XAI FILES… Some of you may remember that while I was running for Congress, I started digging into xAI. Then I went…
Let’s Talk About xAI and Data Center Pollution
The real story that no one wants to talk about!
A computer picked the wrong man. Police arrested him anyway. Memphis isn’t using this software - “at this time.”
Now that I have your attention on the Flock Camera issue - I think it is worth revisiting an issue I’ve been writing about that should be just as chilling - if not more. In January 2020, Detroit police arrested a man named Robert Williams on his front lawn, in front of his wife and…