MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Mayor Paul Young is meeting at City Hall on Tuesday with several Tennessee State Representatives following a press conference Monday demanding a fight to prevent Elon Musk’s xAI project from moving forward.

Young called the meeting with Reps. Justin J. Pearson, G.A. Hardaway, Torrey Harris, and Joe Towns, after comments about him and his approval of the xAI expansion were made during a press conference in Southaven, Miss., on Monday.

In a press release, Pearson said that this is the first time Young has invited him and fellow members of the Tennessee State Delegation to City Hall for a discussion. He met with Young and xAI project manager, Brent Mayo, in December of last year to discuss community concerns surrounding the project.

“This press conference is about transparency and the people’s right to know what Mayor Young is telling state leaders behind closed doors,” said Rep. Pearson. “The fact that our first invitation as a group to City Hall is about a billionaire’s business venture — one that is likely the leading contributor to increased smog in the Memphis Metro Area — is troubling. The Mayor has never called us to City Hall to discuss crime, poverty, education, or health care — only xAI.”

Key points from the conversation between the mayor and the representatives were discussed during the press conference.

Pearson spoke heavily on what he is calling a “lack of transparency” with xAI, saying that he and others in positions like his are not aware of what is happening with the project until the community as a whole is made aware.

“While I’m thankful that the Mayor brought folks together today, the reality of what we are dealing with is that we should have been included in the conversation before this project ever came here. Because you know who would have asked questions about public health? I would have,” said Pearson.

In Monday’s conference, multiple organizations gathered to urge city leaders to deny xAI’s current and future permit applications to operate methane gas turbines, following reports that the company is considering installing 45-90 turbines at its second site.

Pearson stated that this was a topic of discussion with Mayor Young, but questioned xAI’s transparency with city leaders regarding the turbines and the possibility that they could lead to poor air quality in the area.

“Mayor Young said that they are not going to use 45 to 90 gas turbines. I asked him who told him that, and I’m assuming it’s xAI told him, who can’t be trusted because of the lack of transparency that they have had around this whole project,” said Pearson. “So we don’t know how they’re going to power it. But, if history is any indicator for what they’re going to do, it is very likely there are going to be some gas turbines that are used to power the plant. Until we see or hear differently, that is what I’m going to continue to assume to be true.”

Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis) said that Mayor Young is committed to having more meetings with other individuals around the table to “learn more about what we are trying to accomplish here.”

“As members of the community, as leaders in the community, we don’t want to be part of the walking dead. Dead water, dead soil, and dead air because of the pollutants coming from this industry,” said Rep. Towns. “If our leaders make them do it right, it could be a good thing.”

Rep. Pearson seemingly caught the mayor’s attention on Monday when recalling comments Young made during a recent interview with NewsNation. Young stated he had intentions to “exploit xAI” for the good of the community, which Pearson called “ignorant,” saying that “Mayor Young should know better.”

Mayor Young stated that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the state leaders of what is happening with the project due to “quite a bit of disinformation” that has spread regarding the project, as well as “misunderstandings” about the city’s role with xAI.

He said the city has worked with the University of Memphis to determine that this specific project would add a “minimal amount” of pollution. They are still working to determine what the effects will be for the Boxtown community specifically, being that the company is based there.

“I think the first step is to get the actual data. We can hear all of the hyperbole about what comes from turbines, but what’s actually in the air?” said Young. “And that’s the next step is to do the community-based testing so that we can show the community what’s actually happening.”

Young also stated that the 15 current gas turbines that are operating at the company are lawful as a result of a “rule under the EPA” which allows multiple turbines to operate for one year before needing a permit.

“When we look at this project, my goal is to make sure we’re protecting the community against the environmental concerns, but also using that money to elevate a community that is desperately in need of investment,” said Young in the previous NewsNation interview.