Justin Pearson links Tennessee's AI boom to asthma, smog, and higher power bills

As concern over AI infrastructure grows, Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson has become a leading political critic of the pollution and health dangers he says come with the industry's expansion, especially in communities already facing heavy environmental strain.

For Pearson, the issue is personal because it is unfolding in South Memphis.

What's happening?

With xAI expanding facilities near predominantly Black neighborhoods in the Memphis area, Pearson has made fighting data center growth a signature part of his campaign, according to Politico.

Groups suing xAI say the turbines powering the company's supercomputing site could emit more than 2,500 tons of smog-forming pollution each year into a part of Tennessee that already has the state's highest rate of asthma-related emergency room visits.

He said, "AI is controlled by people. Data centers are built by people. And those people and how they exist and operate in the world are a threat to humanity."

Concern is not limited to Memphis. A Gallup survey released in March 2026 found that 70% of Americans would oppose a data center in their community, with air pollution and water use among the top worries.

At the same time, major tech companies are projected to spend about $670 billion on additional facilities in 2026.

Why does it matter?

AI can provide meaningful benefits to society, including better health care diagnostics.

Those systems, however, require a physical home, which means large data centers consuming vast amounts of electricity and, in some cases, significant amounts of water for cooling.

When that demand is supplied by fossil fuels or expensive grid upgrades, nearby communities can be left with dirtier air, tighter resources, and potentially higher power bills.

Pearson says relatives and other nearby residents in Memphis have seen respiratory problems get worse as development around them has intensified.

A July Politico poll found that 41% of Americans said they would oppose a data center planned within three miles of where they live, up from 28% in January.

Opponents also point to limited transparency around projects, fears about AI misuse, and concerns that the communities hosting the infrastructure may not get a fair share of the economic gains.

What's being done?

In a statement, xAI said it reached an agreement with the neighboring State of Mississippi to remove by July 2027 turbines that were operating without Clean Air Act permits and to "ensure that all SpaceXAI mobile turbines are equipped with advanced emission control technologies."

The company also said, "We care deeply about being good neighbors."

While environmental groups continue their lawsuit, Pearson is calling for a moratorium on new data center construction.

That position appears to be gaining some support, with even politicians who have not centered the issue in their campaigns warming to the idea of a temporary pause.

"What I am witnessing is a computer being given more care and concern than a human by elected officials, by corporations, by leadership and by the United States federal government," Pearson said. "And that is wrong and it should terrify people."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.