House Energy Committee Demands SpaceX Tour AI Data Centers Amid Environmental Concerns
The ranking member of the House Committee on Energy, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), has demanded that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk provide a tour of xAI's data centers and power plants in Memphis, Tennessee. In a letter to Musk, Pallone criticized SpaceX for using natural gas-burning turbines without pollution controls or permits, calling it a 'massive health risk' to local communities. Public opposition to AI data center construction is growing across the U.S., with Gallup reporting that 70% of Americans oppose such projects in their area. The letter also highlights concerns over rising electricity prices and environmental impacts from SpaceX's Colossus facilities, which are central to its AI ambitions as it competes with companies like OpenAI. The Trump administration has filed a motion to intervene on behalf of xAI against an environmental lawsuit by advocates and the NAACP in Mississippi. Pallone accused the administration of allowing tech firms to 'pollute unimpeded.' Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill introduced legislation requiring data centers to pay their fair share for electricity.
Topics: AI infrastructure data centers energy use environmental concerns