TVA approves xAI request for electricity supply

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — TVA's board on Thursday approved a request to provide more than 100 megawatts of power to the xAI Colossus supercomputer in southwest Memphis.

xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, says it needs 150 MW of power to support the recently built computer, which powers the Grok AI tool on X, formerly Twitter.

The computer's massive power needs — enough to power 100,000 homes, environmental groups say — are supplied by Memphis Light Gas & Water, which is TVA's largest customer.

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TVA leaders say xAI has agreed to curtail electrical load at certain times in order for TVA and MLGW to make that power available on xAI's requested timeline.

The company has also put into place an energy storage solution, and a recycled water solution to reduce aquifer usage by millions of gallons per day, TVA says.

But several environmental groups, and some TVA board members Thursday, expressed concerns about the project's impact on the area, specifically its use of water from the Memphis aquifer and the use of gas turbines to provide electricity at the site.

"Board members approved xAI's application despite significant concerns that the facility will strain the federal utility's power grid and that it is already worsening air quality in predominantly Black neighborhoods nearby," the Southern Poverty Law Center said.

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TVA says the additional electrical load approval will reduce xAI's need to use those gas turbines.