xAI Data Center Emits Plumes of Pollution, New Video Shows
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The linked video is a bit unclear to me. The don't explain the modes well. Mostly it seems to just show heat. According to the description it's a Teledyne FLIR G620, which should be able to detect Methane and other VOCs. But it's not clear to me how we are supposed to distinguish hot rising CO2 and H2O from any potentially leaking Methane, in those pictures.
Video in question https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4prazMVylRs
It really does just look like heat dissipation from rooftop heat exchangers, not gasses out of an exhaust. I'm sure that building uses (and wastes) an ungodly amount of power, but I'd imagine it's grid-tied, and therefore any noxious gases are being generated elsewhere (with the exception of on-site backup generators).
I'm all for telling AI to fuck off, but let's at least have the facts straight.
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It really does just look like heat dissipation from rooftop heat exchangers, not gasses out of an exhaust. I'm sure that building uses (and wastes) an ungodly amount of power, but I'd imagine it's grid-tied, and therefore any noxious gases are being generated elsewhere (with the exception of on-site backup generators).
I'm all for telling AI to fuck off, but let's at least have the facts straight.
I don't know if they got the substation built, but last year they weren't able to get enough power from the grid, so installed 14 generators (at 2.5mw each) to cover their needs
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It really does just look like heat dissipation from rooftop heat exchangers, not gasses out of an exhaust. I'm sure that building uses (and wastes) an ungodly amount of power, but I'd imagine it's grid-tied, and therefore any noxious gases are being generated elsewhere (with the exception of on-site backup generators).
I'm all for telling AI to fuck off, but let's at least have the facts straight.
They do actually burn gas locally, I wasn't trying to dispute that part. It has become a political discussion in Memphis. Apparently they wanted to start operations on turbines before the grid access was ready.
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This article and what they are doing feels fishy, for a few reasons.
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Data centers usually have steam plumes, but only with older cooling systems, newer designs dont vent off nearly as much water vapor and even newer designs have liquid-to-chip, and im not sure how those vent the heat, but its definitly not venting their treated coolant+water. (Because that would be dumb and expensive, but that seems to be the flavor of the day, so lets roll with that)
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If the building was not designed by a monkey, then this is likely just a generator test. I want to put the emphasis on "TEST" because a data center only runs its very inefficent generators when utility power fails. (They will generate exaust, but usually its diesle generators or something with cheap fuel). Fancy gas turbines sounds very "extra" because the reason that deisle generators are used is that they can turn on and hold the load of the building quickly (and the building should have a battery bank to hold that for exactly what ever that time is)
To me, one of two things is wrong, either the camera is just imaging thermals and thats a normal steam plume and they are being sensationalist. OR (and more likely answer). Musk is building some bespoke data center in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere without the local infrastructure to support it and is doing all sorts of expensive additions to make it do what it would be able to if it was clustered with other data centers that share utilitites.
being sensationalist. OR (and more likely answer). Musk is building some bespoke data center in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere without the local infrastructure to support it
It's exactly what's been reporting in several pieces from 404 Media, and others. Namely xAI does NOT have the infrastructure BUT Musk has a history (Tesla, SpaceX, etc) of cutting corners. He "gets shit done" like no one else not because he's particularly smart or efficiency ... but because he breaks the law, as simple as that.
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A great video on the issue:
Quote from the video, "You can smell it as well," refering to the turbine opetation.
They emit smell. That comports with the leak being gas and not just heat.
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The linked video is a bit unclear to me. The don't explain the modes well. Mostly it seems to just show heat. According to the description it's a Teledyne FLIR G620, which should be able to detect Methane and other VOCs. But it's not clear to me how we are supposed to distinguish hot rising CO2 and H2O from any potentially leaking Methane, in those pictures.
Video in question https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4prazMVylRs
Came here to also question this. "To the naked eye the pollution is not visible." Is that because we're just looking at heat in an IR camera? I know everybody hates Elon Musk but we also hate misinformation and love truth, right? I mean, cuz we are the good guys... riiiight?
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We dont have to guess, it is literally powered by these generators because the local infrastructure cannot support it.
this should be a highlighted comment or smth.
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A massive data center at xAI’s controversial site in Memphis, Tennessee is emitting huge plumes of pollution, according to footage recorded by an environmental watchdog group.
pollution pollution pollution pollution pollution
WHAT THE FUCK IS "POLLUTION"!?
including large volumes of unburned methane
Ooooh. Yeah, that's bad. Methane is a pretty bad greenhouse gas.
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The linked video is a bit unclear to me. The don't explain the modes well. Mostly it seems to just show heat. According to the description it's a Teledyne FLIR G620, which should be able to detect Methane and other VOCs. But it's not clear to me how we are supposed to distinguish hot rising CO2 and H2O from any potentially leaking Methane, in those pictures.
Video in question https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4prazMVylRs
That's what I'm wondering as well, how do we differentiate cooling towers and the heat from those vs actual exhaust emissions..
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When building a data center why wouldn't you secure the required electricity and water before committing to a site?
You do. But you also plan in the case the surrounding infrastructure fails.
But more to the point, in some cases it is better to produce (parto of) your own electricity (where better means cheaper) than buy it on the market. It is not really common but is doable.
