Write an article about
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Move over xAI, there’s a brand new energy hog establishing shop in Shelby County.
Crypto mining corporations are operating in states all across the country. Now, they’re eyeing Memphis and the state of Tennessee.
The Bluff City is getting its first Bitcoin mining facility, and critics are fearful.
Bitcoin–digital currency–requires huge amounts of electricity and water to supply. Memphis’ first data mining facility is under construction in Southeast Memphis at 4545 South Mendenhall within the Capleville area.
Bitcoin mining company Merkle Standard has a contract with MLGW to make use of 30 to 40 MW of power during off-peak (low demand) times, and 5MW during on-peak (high demand) times.
40MW is sufficient to power tens of 1000’s of homes.
“They made an inexpensive request,” MLGW CEO Doug McGowen told Action News 5. “As , I cannot unreasonably withhold power from an organization who asks for it, and there continues to be capability in that substation to serve other customers.”
Just like Elon Musk’s xAI Supercomputer being inbuilt Southwest Memphis, local lawmakers and environmental groups worry about crypto mining’s impact on the MLGW power grid and on the environment.
Memphis City Councilman Dr. Jeff Warren believes latest laws should be passed on the local, state and federal levels to supply oversight of this growing industry.
”We’re trying to return and see what we will do,” Warren told Action News 5, “that can allow us to have reasonable regulations to be sure that that as this stuff are available, A: they don’t drop the grid but B: they’re essentially the most environmentally friendly possible.”
The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club objected to the crypto mining facility’s application to construct here.
“The large demand for electricity,” said Conservation Director Scott Banbury, “will place an unlimited burden on MLGW’s ability to produce electricity to all its customers, and sure requires additional generating capability and subsequent air pollution impacts.”
Merkle Standard, identical to xAI, is required to sign contracts with MLGW and join the Demand Response Program, agreeing to power down when the grid is stressed by hot or cold weather or one other emergency.
CEO McGowen said MLGW customers will all the time be the primary priority.
“I don’t consider there’s any reason to be concerned,” he said. “We don’t hazard your access to power, and availability of power or the reliability of your power.”
McGowen said MLGW is already supplying 50MW of power to the xAI Supercomputer constructing immediately, but xAI needs 150MW of power.
A TVA spokesperson confirmed xAI and TVA, which supplies MLGW with power, are still negotiating.
If the TVA board greenlights the request, xAI still needs to construct its own substation in Memphis.
Click here to join our newsletter!
Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.
Copyright 2024 WMC. All rights reserved.
make it easy to read for teens.Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6) and made content unique. Include conclusion section and don’t include the title. it must return only article i dont want any extra information or introductory text with article e.g: ” Here is rewritten article:” or “Here is the rewritten content:”
