MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A state representative from Memphis says he supports Elon Musk’s xAI, and says the company is planning up to eight more sites in the area.

Republican state Rep. John Gillespie’s comments came after state representatives had a press conference on Tuesday against the project moving forward.

“Why is economic development always at the cost of poor folk? Always at the cost of low wel people? We as a city have to have higher self-esteem, we as a city have to believe better about who we are,” said State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, (D-Memphis).

Pearson and other democratic lawmakers met with Memphis Mayor Paul Young on Tuesday.

Republican Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis) says he was there too, and he has a different take on xAI.

“I’m extremely excited and the potential of all the other things that will follow,” said Gillespie. “We’re in a global arms race with artificial intelligence.”

“We’re competing not with Silicon Valley, but we’re actually competing with China and Russia, and North Korea. xAI and people at xAI have said that they plan on winning that arms race,” said Gillespie.

In a statement, he talked about the large amount of tax dollars the company brings also saying, “Hundreds of Memphians are currently working in construction as xAI plans to build on at least eight sites in Shelby County. “

“Right now if you do look up, xAI has four sites right now that they have and they’ve publicly said more are to come. I don’t know how many that number is, I hope it’s more than eight but I suspect it will be more than eight as well,” said Gillespie.

“Well the data that I’ve seen and the health department has confirmed and the manufacturer of the turbines have also confirmed, they have technology on there that makes it no more than a dry cleaning or a gas station,” said Gillespie.

Mayor Paul Young said there are plans to bring more community-based testing of the air quality in the area of xAI. 

“My goal is to make sure our people are protected from a health perspective and that we use this project to boost our city economically,” said Mayor Young.

Gillespie says he’s all for the testing. It’s unclear when that testing will be happening in southwest Memphis and the Boxtown community.