The Truth: Memphis Faced Smog Long Before Elon Set Up Shop

Memphis has grappled with air quality issues for years. The city frequently appears on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's annual “asthma capitals” list, landing at 15th in the 2024 report for the most challenging places to live with asthma. In the latest State of the Air report, Shelby County received an F grade, and for the past two years, four out of five air quality monitoring stations in Memphis recorded ozone levels surpassing federal limits. This situation has worsened with the introduction of Colossus, Elon Musk's supercomputer, which is likely now the largest contributor to ozone emissions in the area, leading to heightened concern from local environmental organizations. The Southern Environmental Law Center has formally requested the EPA to label the Memphis region as a “nonattainment” area for ozone. The NAACP also called for the closure of Colossus, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on Black communities historically forced to endure pollution and health risks.