(NewsNation) — The mayor of Memphis, Tenn., believes Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer facility will assist “a community that is desperately in need of investment,” although some residents say in any other case.

The mission will occupy an empty Electrolux manufacturing unit situated on town’s south aspect. It runs gasoline generators, which launch chemical substances like formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides, within the strategy of powering his AI chatbot, Grok.

Some Memphians have mentioned the tech facility is polluting the air and water in a traditionally Black, working-class neighborhood and have joined the NAACP to name for its closure.

“We are urging you again to ensure that xAI stops operating its unpermitted turbines in violation of clean air and open meeting act laws and to order xAI to pay penalties for operating in violation of the law,” the NAACP instructed county officers in a letter.

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However Memphis Mayor Paul Younger sees it as an “opportunity for us to benefit as a city.” The mission is forecasted to generate $15 to $20 million in property taxes yearly and is anticipated to create greater than 300 jobs.

“It’s in a community where 75 of the properties on the list for condemnation are located in that community — the second highest in our city,” Younger instructed NewsNation. “[There’s] one grocery store. So, there are some conditions in that community that require investment.”

These unpermitted generators, in response to Younger, are a piece in progress.

“Well, they have 365 days to get the temporary turbines permitted, and they filed for the permits in January,” Younger mentioned. “They’re expected to have those permits by September.”

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Musk additionally needs to construct a second, much more highly effective knowledge heart about 10 miles away. Younger instructed NewsNation he welcomes the funding, even with the billionaire’s controversial title connected.

“My goal is to separate the project from the person and really look at what the value proposition is for our community,” Younger mentioned, including: “I certainly believe that the visibility that he has contributes to a lot of the pushback that we’re seeing.”

In February, a person was arrested and charged with an act of terrorism for saying he was “going to burn down” the power.