Right in the heart of Texas,
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Interesting video. The rush to dominate AI and make profit is the rage.
Canāt get left behind in this tech race, so rules and healt impact be damned.
Had no idea Stargate in Abilene was of that scale.
Really need studies and monitors in peoples homes to measure amount of
NOX and PM that folks are being exposed to. And some understanding how far these domes of toxic levels extend. TCEQ probably doesnāt give a damn. Not to
mention the CO2 load created as well.
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It was less than a decade ago when every big tech company had their sustainability plans front and center
Then came 2022 and poof! Gone.
As brilliant as Larry Ellison is I look at anything heās involved in with suspicion. Heās prototypical devious iconoclast.
I see him as a modified version of John McAfee, without the murder, anal cocaine, and warped videos with supermodels.
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I work in Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) compliance which has very mature and strict regulations to ensure public safety for these exact things - gas turbines generating power and emitting pollution. What Xai is doing in Mississippi with claiming ātemporary power sourcesā to skirt compliance requirements is outright criminal. I usually am more conservative in my opinions but with this specific case and being very knowledgeable on this field this is blatant criminal activity in the name of expediency and profit. We are clearly living in a new Gilded Age of sorts and the new AI Barons will have to be brought under control sooner than later. Unfortunately will probably have to wait until 2029 when current POTUS is out of office. Situations like this are why I scratch my head when really conservative/libertarian people act like the govt needs to stay completely out of things. No, you end up with companies doing things like this. Canāt have the govt being crazy with regulations and such but definitely need govt to intelligently police companies.
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That sounds like a really fascinating job to
be in. How expensive is it to do that monitoring of those types of pollution from data centers ?
Do you work with or have an opinion on TCEQ ? If thatās a loaded question youād rather not comment on, I get it.
So to maintain compliance you have to measure various chemicals going up out of the exhaust stack that if not properly limited have known health and environmental implications. The exact measured components and the emission levels allowed depend on what your source fuel is, what the power generating device is and several other factors.
The company obtains an emissions permit from the EPA/TCEQ based the factors above. My company reviews the permit and provides the measurement device solutions so that the company will stay in compliance to the permit. The measurement levels are to be obtained and logged continuously while the power source is operational and the company can get heavily fined if they are out of compliance.
Iād say the cheapest you can possibly get a measurement system for compliance for one of those āportableā turbines would be ~$250K/unit and takes 2-3 years from permit request to measurement systems being installed and operational. Each turbine would have a separate independent measurement unit. Given that Xai is lining up multiple electrical generating sources in a row to meet electrical demand you are talking several million dollars at Collosus and the time delay it takes to get permits, procure these systems and properly bring them online plus the company will have to allocate long term resources to maintain the systems and ensure compliance throughout the life of the turbine.
Xai should be, at minimum, back charged HEAVY fines for all these undocumented emissions and possibly some of their leadership face charges.
This whole AI Baron situation is getting eerily similar to the robber baron situation of the late 19th century. Canāt let billionaries profit to the deteriment of the public good and public health.
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I find this info to be fascinating.
Thanks for educating us on this very important topic!
Can you speculate on how large an area from these kind of sources has levels of particulate matter and NOX levels that could be dangerous to humans ? Iām sure there are lots of factors (like wind patterns, rain, avg temperatures, cloud cover, etc) in the answer , but does the hazardous zone extend 1 mile, 2 miles, or 10+ miles from the source ?
Just curious.