Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time, ladies and gentlemen, for us to get back
into what's really going on in Memphis and the surrounding areas.
It is the pulse. I am Stormy. We keep our
fingertips on the pulse of our community and ladies and
gentlemen from the Greater Memphis Chamber, I have invited a
guest on the show today. We're gonna talk x AI
(00:20):
and a whole lot more. So should I introduce you
or you want to introduce.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yourself, Stormy. I'm happy to be here, Okay, I'm happy
to have you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Bobby White, Chief Government Affairs Officer with the Greater Memphis Chamber.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You've known me long enough.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Those titles have switched over the years, but this is
the most recent one.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, oh yeah, they have switched over the years because
you've gone from Memphis to other places and now to
the Chamber.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right right.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's been a ride, it's but again, I'm delighted to
be here in Memphis at this particular point in our history.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah, I'm glad you're here too.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Give me your title again.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Chief Government of Fairs Officer, essentially of government affairs and
advocacy as it relates to supporting those businesses and opportunities
that we try to bring here. Jobs as jobs our
top of mind for us, quality jobs, and so I
just do a lot of blocking and tackling to hopefully
land us in those places.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Okay, I want to talk to you about some practical things,
and also we're going to get into x Ais. But first, Bobby,
I want to ask you this. When it comes to
the Chamber, is I knew this to be true in
some places that I've lived over the years in my life,
and whenever I had a business that was maybe doing
(01:39):
me wrong or I felt like they were doing me wrong,
I could say I'm gonna talk to the Chamber, and
they were straighten up real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, I would hope we have a reputation along those lines.
I know our friends that the Better Business Bureau helps
get people in place. But I will say this that
the Chamber we are at this point, we're like the Chamber.
I speak as if I've been there the whole while.
But the Chamber is one hundred and eighty six years old.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It's like one of the oldest chambers of comers in
the nation.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Really in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
In Memphis, the Memphis Chamber, it goes back that far.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
In fact, if you were to go to the US
Chamber of Commerce in actually in DC, you'll notice that we,
along with maybe seven others are you'll see our plaque, our.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Name, because we were charter members.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
The Memphis Chamber was a charter member of the US Chamber,
meaning we existed prior to the US Chamber of Comers.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
So it's a long, long cast. Are you kidding me? Yeah,
it's a long organization.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So there was Memphis and then there was the US.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yes, absolutely right, it's been around for a while.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
It's a long time, long time. So, as a member
of the city, is the Chamber there for businesses or
is it there for a resident you know, citizens?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Well, I will say this, I mean that's and that's
a great question because years ago and I used to
work actually for the mayor of Memphis, and so I
remember this time the Chamber actually used to accept funds
from government, where in fact, you know, it would do
the economic development right, in other words, it's going and
(03:16):
recruiting businesses to come to the city of Memphis, and
it was a.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Compensated or paid to advance that work.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Well, some years ago, members of the Chamber and there
was a particular issue that kind of created this chasm,
if you will, between the City Council and the Chamber
had to do with just fiscal things relying and regarding
the city, and the Chamber took a position that wasn't
quite popular. Some of the Chamber of members got together
and form what they call the Chairman's Circle, which is
(03:45):
essentially to say we're going to take top businesses and
going to allow them to pay an elevated amount to
actually allow the Chamber to cut away from receiving public funds.
So in that sense, I say that because the Chamber,
and it has been for like eleven going into twelve years,
it's been a membership organization where it does not receive
(04:08):
any funds from government for operations and yet instill it
does provide a community resource because it is the tip
of the spear when it comes to going out recruiting
businesses to actually make Memphis home.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah, and there have been times when you guys, I
don't know if you still have it, but you've had
a website with businesses all across the city where people
could go and find jobs.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yes, and we actually still do a good amount of that.
We're a membership organization. And I'll just say this as well,
the super majority of our members. I think you think
about big companies like AutoZone, International, paper fed x and
even the newest one of the largest members, XAI, who
just recently joined, But the super majority of our members
(04:55):
are small businesses, right, So I think that many people
we think that, you know, we're just there for the
big guys, but quite frankly, we're there to ensure that
we're supporting the little guys because they make up the
majority of our membership.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, and that's good to know. Thank you guys for
joining us. I'm stormy. It is the pulse, keeping our
fingertips on the pulse of our community. Bobby White here
with the Greater Memphis Chamber, and one of the reasons
I wanted Bobby to come is to talk about x AI.
A lot of folks are scared.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
As a matter of fact, the mayor last weekend had
and he's done others town halls and talking about x AI.
People are concerned about possibly the effects of pollution from
x AI. So how do we know that that isn't
going to happen or is that something on your on
(05:52):
our radar?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Absolutely? If you don't mind me feeling in that I'll
say this that you know and let me let me
just say this, like two things.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Can be true. I think we have to wrap our
minds around.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
The fact that it took a pastor to mention this
to me because we were having a conversation about this
subject and as I explained things, he just he said, hey, Bobby,
it's business, right, Yeah. And the reality of it is
is that when you say that, I think it reminds
us that many times it's not personal and it's not personalities,
(06:28):
it's business. And where we are is that I have
to And let me just go back when we were
first talking about this project. I mean, it was very
quiet and we had to keep a big secret, right,
confidentiality and things. And when you say we members of
the chamber, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Because honestly, the chamber was the first place I heard
about x Ai coming to Memphis.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
This is the thing about economic development people who need
to recognize is that when a private organization or company
is making a private investment, that is not something that
is known across the public. Right, that is not something
they you have the right, as a business owner or
someone who owns a businesses to go and make an
investment and not have to tell everybody and get their
(07:11):
approval for what you do. As long as the investment
that you're making is not depending on public incentives for instance,
or that you require some change in zoning, you can
go and do make a private investment if you like
as a business owner. Let me back up to your point.
People are scared. And I understand that you have an
(07:32):
absolutely controversial business founder in the founder of Xai, who
we know to be Elon Musk.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
One of the wealthiest men in the world.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Absolutely, and let me just say it's not thee yes, yes,
And I make no apologies for his actions. You know,
I was raised a certain way and so I won't
even say anything negative now. I'm just not raised to
talk negatively about people. But we've seen what that has
looked like. And I understand people having concerns about the
company and e because of who the company's founder actually is.
(08:03):
But I would just remind us where the people who
have these concerns about the environment, and I want to
talk about those one by one.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Environmental concerns. Yeah, but this is the.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Same dude that came up with the electric car that
isn't battled by it right now, Tesla, we know they're
having a hard time, but it changed, It changed things.
It kind of turned the automotive industry upside down. Yeah,
and it had a whole lot to do with sustainability,
environmentally consciousness, environmentally conscious, being environmentally conscious, and that's been
(08:33):
something that we have heard throughout from the company and
the company lead that they have been concerned about environmental
They've been concerned about the environment.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Because many of the Tesla cars are electric.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, they're electric, and so but here's the thing regarding
this particular if not all, Yes they are. But here's
the thing about the company. They have throughout since our
first connection with them, been talking about how they are
concerned about the environment. What that has looked like is
them investing in making investments that actually are for the
benefit of the community. Despite the fear and a lot
(09:09):
of what we've heard about people's concerns. We just have
to tell the story to make sure people understand that
there's good information that actually speaks to some of the
fears and concerns that they have.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And I'm happy to talk more about that. Yeah, pollution, pollution,
let's talk air pollution, to begin. Yeah, well, I'll tell
you what before we.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Get an air pollution, let's because it started out again
us talking about water.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Oh yes, water.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
It started out with water. It was like there was
a go in.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And and and you know before I guess we got
concerned about water, and we probably wouldn't been It wouldn't
have been as concerned had not Germantown had their water issue. Right,
And then here comes x AI.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Right right right, and and what they found out is
the only let your luck site. And so the first
thing that I think hit the paper was, Hey, this
company's coming in and they will have access to one
million gallons of water per day from the aquifer. Well,
here's the thing that people should know is that any
(10:16):
company that was there had access to that amount because
that was the capacity that you could and you had
the ability to actually pull one million gallons of water
per day.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
So you're saying, including Electrolux, who was here primed, absolutely,
anybody in the industry leader's industry that move into that.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Site had that ability.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
That number that we're speaking of is not some strange thing.
But when people heard that, and if you aren't familiar
with how it works, that's actually wasn't something uncommon. But
when we heard that in people's concern about that, well,
what did the company do?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
They did not.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Their their statement was this their not going to pull
water from the aquifer to cool the super computer. Yeah,
because the supercomputer it has to be cool. And they
have this whole really fancy way that water does this.
They built a closed loop inside of the building which actually.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sends water in.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It cools, a computer, comes out warm, they cool it
back down, goes in. And so they built a closed
loop inside of their building.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
That and this is built.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Now, that's been built.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
This is what they've used from the very beginning, they say,
at the very beginning. Okay, and so they were using
water from the aquifer, but they were using it in
a normal way that anyone will like at the water fountains.
But they were not using water from the aquifer for
industrial uses.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And are no, they are not. They have not.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
They never really did. From the very beginning of this,
they even brought water in. They were concerned and they
did not want to and have not pulled water from
the aquifer to cool the computer because that's not what
they wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So so we got all the water Mississippi and is
close to close to that area, right, so, and then
we got the aquifer, so they're not using either. They
brought they built their own system. They built their elect
in that building where electric where they that they bought
from Electrolux, yes to do that, and their own water
in the water.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
That's right. Here's the second part. Okay, there are other companies.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
In that area that use like TVA, they use about
six point the mayor, Mayor Young mentioned this Saturday at
that event that you mentioned, they use about six point
five million gallons of water per day from the aquifer.
So see the same way you just reacted to that.
That's the same audible gasp that we actually heard from
(12:52):
folks at that town hall meeting this past Saturday. Because again,
if you just it's putting things in the content. Now
you know that a million gallons a day and all
they're crazy because guess what, TVA, who's the largest consumer
of water, by the way, they're using six point five
million gallons of water every day.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
They do great work, by the way. So here's the issue, XAI.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Something that does not exist here, even though there have
been thoughts about it. They committed to build a wastewater.
We call it greywater wastewater recycle facility, which takes wastewater,
treats it, and to build a plant where not just
them they can plug into it, but also new Core
Steel is going to plug into it, and TVA is
(13:34):
going to plug into it so.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
TVA can get off some of the aquifers.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
So TVA will no longer pull water from the aquifer.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
God, they will pull and be using treated waste water
with the facility.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
That XAI is going to build. And it's going to
cost them. Get this, they're going to spend now mind
you it's a big company. Yeah, they're going to spend
eighty million dollars to build this wastewater recycle facility which
is going to allow four point seven billion gallons of
water per year to remain in the aquafer.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So so now, all the time that I've heard talk
about x AI, and even I've even talked to the
CEO of mlg W, again, nobody's explained it to me
like that. Well, and he did, kind of he did.
He made you know, let me take that back. I
think he did explain part of what you said. But
the way you've explained it to me in to me
(14:35):
in Laban's terms, because you know, a lot of us
we don't get all this talking to talk, you know,
y'all y'all be all bye head.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Right right, yeah, let me let me let me just
shout out.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
I'm a South Memphis born, White Haven Bread when I
die be Memphis, did I speak fluent barbershop?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Yes? Well, thank you, And that's what we need.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
We need people that will come to our level, you
know when in Rome, because we we don't understand all
of the you know, the lingo around all of this
because it is so sophisticated.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, and that's the thing too. Again, they talked about
this from the beginning. Now I want to because I
don't want to leave you there because what they just
did and the council, to their credit, approved the sale
of what thirteen to fifteen acres to Xai and they're
going to build the facility there.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Okay, now put a pin right there. Yes, I'm gonna
stop you and thank you guys for joining us. I
am stormy. It is the pulse, keeping our fingertips on
the pulse of our community. Bobby White with a greater
Memphis Chamber. Yes, now, Bobby, that is another concern. Okay,
so many people in the area White Haven or South
Memphis area where this the new facility will be built,
(15:48):
are concerned now as well, so much so that I
was on the air one day and somebody called me
and they said, I've been getting these soss since you
know he's come. And I don't know if it has
any to do with him or not, but this is
as far as their cell phone is concerned. So should
the people in that area South Memphis, Whitehaven, Memphis and
(16:10):
beyond Pauliaville, Mississippi. Should we be concerned Arkansas? Should we
all be concerned as well?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Well, this is what I'll say. I think that environmental concerns.
I think we just talked to the water. The next
biggest issue that is the hot topic now has to
do with air pollution. Yeah, because they have been running
gas turbines to power the supercomputer. And so here's the
(16:41):
thing about that. I tell you, I got good answers
for this stuff. Okay, Okay, here's the thing about the
gas turbines that XAI has been using. It's only about
fifteen of them. I kind of get that number mixed up,
fifteen to eighteen. I can't remember what number it is.
I've done tours out there for any number of elected officials.
And here's the thing about those actual gas turbines. Our
(17:04):
guy named Brent Mayo, who leaves that whole project, he
had to point out to our council members and others
that they actually are on right now. Because people have
this image in their head that there's this great stuff
coming out. Well, here's the thing to know. And this undercuts,
I want to say, undercut. It speaks to the concern
that so so many folks have, right Yeah, these are
(17:26):
not the gas turbines of old. These are not the
gas turbines we have in our head from the nineties.
And these pillows of smoking stuff, yeah, because that's what
in my head, that's what head smoke.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I want everybody to look up.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Look up this thing called selective catalytic reduction, selected selective
catalytic reduction gas turbines.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
And I'm gonna lean on.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I'm thirty years ago at more House, I took general
chemistry and organic chemistry. I'm gonna say it in a
chemical way first, and then I'm was said in a
plane spoken way. The chemical way, is this the nitrogen
oxide that would come from a normal gas turbine that
is the thing that people are concerned about, and that
it's toxic. With the selective catalytic reduction gas turbine, there
(18:17):
is the introduction of ammonia or urea, which combines with
the nitrogen gen oxide and produces water, vapor and nitrogen,
both of which are harmless. So the gas turbines that
has been so much concerned about these are not the
gas turbines of old. Look up SCR gas turbines.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It will let you know.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
This is why XAI, those gas turbines are viewed as
a minor pollutant. The mayor mentioned this Saturday in line
with similar to like a gas station or cleaners, because
is not producing the nitrogen oxide that is the thing
that everybody is concerned about.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
A Selective catalyctic reduction SCR is a technology that uses
a urea of based diesel exhaust fluid and a catalytic
converter to significantly reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, I mean, if you look it up, see these
folks alike. I mean, these are the folks kind of
trying to chart a plan. Again, I make no apologies.
I have a thing about how people are treated.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
So let me say this.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I'm not here making any apologies for how the founder
of the company and things that have happened in DC.
I get all of that, but look, I have to
talk about what's in front of me. And what's in
front of me is the fact that we have gas
turbines that are not the type of gas turbines that
so many people are concerned about these things. These are
(19:49):
the same people charging course tomorls. They're using a gas
turbine that is absolutely fundamentally different than the gas turbines
that people have in their mind. It is maybe a
ninety reduction in terms of the type of things that
emits that could be harmful to people.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
So you're telling me that my old beat up car,
this is not a hooptie. It might be emitting more
of that stuff than the gas turbines.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
I won't say all that, but I will say, mayor
Young use the analogy of cleaners and gas stations. These
things are not viewed as a major pollutant. The folks
with the Health Department are ultimately going to share that information.
But frankly speaking, folks, again, Stormy, I just say this
that again, I listen, I have been in this space
(20:43):
of trying to promote our city for years.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Economic development is hard work.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
We have a gentleman, a person who leads our economic
development chief ecnom develop All. She's fluent in French. We
have a guy of Indian descent on that team. We
have a global VP who's from Canada. We have a
team that is around the world, around the nation, trying
to sell Memphis. It's been hard these last couple of years.
(21:11):
If you think about the top five stories coming out
of Olymphis over the last two years, three of them
have been major ugly crime events. The fourth one has
been the ascendancy of Glorilla. The fifth one has been
the super computer. So of these, I mean, if you
think about it, Gloriala has been the biggest thing outside
(21:31):
of those three.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yeah, but great.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, But I'm saying I'm not saying, oh no, no, I'm
not saying Gorilla is bad.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I'm saying I guess I misunderstood. But I guess when
you said it, I thought I look at it as
the biggest to me, and she's She's definitely up in there,
But the bigger to me would be Tyree Nichols.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, but Ezekiel Kelly. And then the third one, Yeah,
Liza Fletcher. Yeah, heart go out. I know folks connected
that is. It's horrific. It breaks your heart. Now think
about it. What is it like to go sell the
city of Memphis with the backdrop of those three national stories,
those three stories that hit the nation.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And here and here. But wait, there's more. They're not
the only stories.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
There are more. Yeah, but those are the three that
went nationwide. And then the gloriala we love glorially.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
I'm gonna make sure you understand that, right, yea Gloria glow.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, everybody will big glow. I ain't playing with them, no, But.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I mentioned that because those are the five biggest story
in the last is the supercomputer, right, So so to say,
and I know some folks who are going to be like,
they don't care as long as it has anything to
do with that founder. They don't want to have anything
to do, right, But that's twelve billion dollars right now.
It's the biggest thing we've seen in our history. And
it's going up.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
By tens and tens and teens more billions of dollars
with the new site.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
So I'm saying this to you story and it's all
out say is that I just want to make sure
that everybody understands we can't be too cavalier.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
About economic development in Memphis. We got to make sure
we're taking advantage of opportunities. And I hear somebody say that,
well they have concerns, Well listen, this is where we
have elected officials.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
This is why we kick tires on stuff. We don't
just believe what people say and we search things out.
But again, this goes back to why those environmental concerns.
I wanted to at least share that information because I
think that'll put a lot of people in a different
mindset about the project over.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, this is yeah, and thank you for that, and
thank you for you know, the way you've shared it is.
But it's definitely been one of those topics that a
lot of people have talked about because everybody's concerned. And
you know, it's not just Memphis, like I said, it's
the other municipalities around us who have no say so
(23:51):
and what happens in Memphis, but will feel the effects
should it be negative.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Right, I will say this too. Story you mentioned about
how this company and how it might be for instance,
pulling on our grid. Well here's the third and there's
a fourth, but here's the third.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Ok. The third thing is they have introduced Tesla Mega packs.
Now forget about how Tesla stock is stumbling and all that.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Yeah, right again, Tesla Mega packs are essentially like a
self contained kind of thing where it's battery where essentially,
uh it is like battery backup.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, it's it's it's the things that they use for
the solar power.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Is that it's like, well, it's like one of those
things where solar panels, right right, Well they are well
I don't know if I can say that yet.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I don't know if I can talk about the solar Well,
let me just say this, Okay, Tesla Mega packs are
essentially just think big batteries, right yeah, so I heard
about that they capture, yeah, and then they go back
and support the grid.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
So here's the thing about these Tesla Mega packs. These
Tesla Mega packs are actually strengthening our electrical grid by
actually being in that space like you know, when we've
had those advanced hey don't run your turn, your turn,
your power down?
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yeah yeah, the.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Right, right, right, Well, Tesla Mega packs are standing there
and in the space now where we become like ground
zero for Tesla megapacks, and those megapacks are essentially like
battery storage that supports the grid, that supports the electrical grid.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
So now in addition to the grey water facility.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
We also now have this investment of these Tesla megapacks
that are a great thing.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
They're batteries.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
You can talk about energy opportunities and expanding how we
are able to support these demands. Like when we had
those events most recently, those Tesla Mega packs out, the
company pulled off of the grid all together, so they
weren't pulling any power from electric grid and you know
they ran off of Tesla megapacks. So just know that
(25:59):
those testament not just for them. The Tesla megapects are
providing support to mlgn W and the TVA. So just
know that that's just another way that we're taking advantage
of an investment from the company.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Wow, that's a lot is a short amount of time.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
But how did you do that?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Well, the problem is is that I appreciate the opportunity
to talk about it, and it's hard to get this
stuff into soundbites.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
That's one of the problems.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yes, but you need a little longer to make sure
people understand this. So we're trying to do a better
job to talk about it. And I just really appreciate
the opportunity to come and talk about it.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
I'm glad you did. I'm glad somehow another I guess
it was God.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Well, well, we praise the Lord for every opportunity to
be anywhere, breathing and alive.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
But I tell you what, I'm just happy to see
you Stone.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Okay, listen, it's the weekend, it's close to the Sunday,
and for those a lot of folks listening on this
Sunday were gonna give him the glory, let him have it. Yeah,
we are both here for that reason, because of him.
So we'll say we're here for But at any rate,
let me say thank you again for coming and sharing
(27:08):
all of this. And I'm just trying to make sure
I don't forget anything.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Well let me can I say this absolutely, I want
to make sure people know and understand. I want I
love when people are paying attention, and so the concerns
are legitimate. I mean, my mother in law, my mother
in law has five degrees and and she's been concerned,
and so I want to make sure people understand that
(27:34):
those concerns means that they're concerned about their community.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
I am too. Listen, look southwest Southwest Memphis.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I used to go to Candid Lady on Western Park
across from the Bernard Residents, and went to Double Tree
where my mom taught and my dad was assistant principal
at Westwood High.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I grew up in that community. Even I was South
Memphis and then white Haven, but went to school there.
So I look. I saw my sixth grade teacher, Missus Berkeley,
at that meeting. The other day, the mayor head at.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Riverside Church got out to Ribbend boys. I'll just say
this that we are concerned. We are absolutely concerned, and
we are paying attention. And this isn't one of those
things where it's economic development at any cost. This is
economic development with us having counted up the costs and
understanding that us taking advantage of this is not at
(28:23):
the risk of having these gas turbines just anywhere or
pulling water from the aquifer. Neither of those things is
really I hope that I've given enough explanation that share.
So we're concerned, we're paying attention, and I just again
appreciate the opportunity to talk a little bit more about it.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, and I want to say thank you for doing that.
I'm going to have to probably ask you to come back.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Sure, I love to I love to you.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I love to because I'm sure that what you said
is going to spark more questions. And I have more questions,
but I just don't have time to ask no words.
But for those of you that listen to this show,
please go back and listen to the podcast so that
you can hear it again and so that you can
get a clear understanding. I think I'm gonna have to
(29:08):
listen to it myself so that I can get a
clear understanding, because I want it in my head so
that when people ask me, I know what to say,
you know what I'm saying, or know where to send them.
I can always send them, send them to the podcast.
Or should I give them your cell phone numbers? Well,
I don't want me to do that. No, no, no, no,
I love the Lord. But you know listen, I will
(29:28):
say this too. We're trying to make this easier.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
We're going to have some materials and working the mayor
and other elected officials, so you'll see more information out
that that is plane spoken that it explains very simply
so people can understand why the air pollution issue that
people are really worried about is not as much an
issue as you.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Really are an aquifer or the aquifer.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
We want to make sure it people and our lights
and even the tesla mean we want to make yeah,
the electrical grid. How the presence of the company has
been a benefit not a detriment.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Oh more more toica.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Okay, all right, you guys, I'm Stormy. It's the Pulse
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Bobby White,
thank you again. Thank you for coming to be a
part of the show. Man. Y'all, y'all gotta go check
out the podcast again. Listen to this again, okay, and
share it with your friends. I'm gonna post it on Monday.
It'll be on all of our station websites and on
the Pulse, so it'd be the latest podcast. Go listen
(30:23):
and like I said, share it with your friends. But
thank you again for listening to the show today as
we keep our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Again,
I'm Stormy. Thank you, Bobby, thank you, and we'll see
you next week, same time, same station, God bless you
have a great week.
It's time, ladies and gentlemen, for us to get back
into what's really going on in Memphis and the surrounding areas.
It is the pulse. I am Stormy. We keep our
fingertips on the pulse of our community and ladies and
gentlemen from the Greater Memphis Chamber, I have invited a
guest on the show today. We're gonna talk x AI
(00:20):
and a whole lot more. So should I introduce you
or you want to introduce.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yourself, Stormy. I'm happy to be here, Okay, I'm happy
to have you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Bobby White, Chief Government Affairs Officer with the Greater Memphis Chamber.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You've known me long enough.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Those titles have switched over the years, but this is
the most recent one.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, oh yeah, they have switched over the years because
you've gone from Memphis to other places and now to
the Chamber.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right right.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's been a ride, it's but again, I'm delighted to
be here in Memphis at this particular point in our history.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah, I'm glad you're here too.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Give me your title again.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Chief Government of Fairs Officer, essentially of government affairs and
advocacy as it relates to supporting those businesses and opportunities
that we try to bring here. Jobs as jobs our
top of mind for us, quality jobs, and so I
just do a lot of blocking and tackling to hopefully
land us in those places.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Okay, I want to talk to you about some practical things,
and also we're going to get into x Ais. But first, Bobby,
I want to ask you this. When it comes to
the Chamber, is I knew this to be true in
some places that I've lived over the years in my life,
and whenever I had a business that was maybe doing
(01:39):
me wrong or I felt like they were doing me wrong,
I could say I'm gonna talk to the Chamber, and
they were straighten up real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Well, I would hope we have a reputation along those lines.
I know our friends that the Better Business Bureau helps
get people in place. But I will say this that
the Chamber we are at this point, we're like the Chamber.
I speak as if I've been there the whole while.
But the Chamber is one hundred and eighty six years old.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It's like one of the oldest chambers of comers in
the nation.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Really in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
In Memphis, the Memphis Chamber, it goes back that far.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
In fact, if you were to go to the US
Chamber of Commerce in actually in DC, you'll notice that we,
along with maybe seven others are you'll see our plaque, our.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Name, because we were charter members.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
The Memphis Chamber was a charter member of the US Chamber,
meaning we existed prior to the US Chamber of Comers.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
So it's a long, long cast. Are you kidding me? Yeah,
it's a long organization.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So there was Memphis and then there was the US.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yes, absolutely right, it's been around for a while.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
It's a long time, long time. So, as a member
of the city, is the Chamber there for businesses or
is it there for a resident you know, citizens?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Well, I will say this, I mean that's and that's
a great question because years ago and I used to
work actually for the mayor of Memphis, and so I
remember this time the Chamber actually used to accept funds
from government, where in fact, you know, it would do
the economic development right, in other words, it's going and
(03:16):
recruiting businesses to come to the city of Memphis, and
it was a.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Compensated or paid to advance that work.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Well, some years ago, members of the Chamber and there
was a particular issue that kind of created this chasm,
if you will, between the City Council and the Chamber
had to do with just fiscal things relying and regarding
the city, and the Chamber took a position that wasn't
quite popular. Some of the Chamber of members got together
and form what they call the Chairman's Circle, which is
(03:45):
essentially to say we're going to take top businesses and
going to allow them to pay an elevated amount to
actually allow the Chamber to cut away from receiving public funds.
So in that sense, I say that because the Chamber,
and it has been for like eleven going into twelve years,
it's been a membership organization where it does not receive
(04:08):
any funds from government for operations and yet instill it
does provide a community resource because it is the tip
of the spear when it comes to going out recruiting
businesses to actually make Memphis home.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yeah, and there have been times when you guys, I
don't know if you still have it, but you've had
a website with businesses all across the city where people
could go and find jobs.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yes, and we actually still do a good amount of that.
We're a membership organization. And I'll just say this as well,
the super majority of our members. I think you think
about big companies like AutoZone, International, paper fed x and
even the newest one of the largest members, XAI, who
just recently joined, But the super majority of our members
(04:55):
are small businesses, right, So I think that many people
we think that, you know, we're just there for the
big guys, but quite frankly, we're there to ensure that
we're supporting the little guys because they make up the
majority of our membership.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, and that's good to know. Thank you guys for
joining us. I'm stormy. It is the pulse, keeping our
fingertips on the pulse of our community. Bobby White here
with the Greater Memphis Chamber, and one of the reasons
I wanted Bobby to come is to talk about x AI.
A lot of folks are scared.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
As a matter of fact, the mayor last weekend had
and he's done others town halls and talking about x AI.
People are concerned about possibly the effects of pollution from
x AI. So how do we know that that isn't
going to happen or is that something on your on
(05:52):
our radar?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Absolutely? If you don't mind me feeling in that I'll
say this that you know and let me let me
just say this, like two things.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Can be true. I think we have to wrap our
minds around.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
The fact that it took a pastor to mention this
to me because we were having a conversation about this
subject and as I explained things, he just he said, hey, Bobby,
it's business, right, Yeah. And the reality of it is
is that when you say that, I think it reminds
us that many times it's not personal and it's not personalities,
(06:28):
it's business. And where we are is that I have
to And let me just go back when we were
first talking about this project. I mean, it was very
quiet and we had to keep a big secret, right,
confidentiality and things. And when you say we members of
the chamber, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Because honestly, the chamber was the first place I heard
about x Ai coming to Memphis.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
This is the thing about economic development people who need
to recognize is that when a private organization or company
is making a private investment, that is not something that
is known across the public. Right, that is not something
they you have the right, as a business owner or
someone who owns a businesses to go and make an
investment and not have to tell everybody and get their
(07:11):
approval for what you do. As long as the investment
that you're making is not depending on public incentives for instance,
or that you require some change in zoning, you can
go and do make a private investment if you like
as a business owner. Let me back up to your point.
People are scared. And I understand that you have an
(07:32):
absolutely controversial business founder in the founder of Xai, who
we know to be Elon Musk.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
One of the wealthiest men in the world.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Absolutely, and let me just say it's not thee yes, yes,
And I make no apologies for his actions. You know,
I was raised a certain way and so I won't
even say anything negative now. I'm just not raised to
talk negatively about people. But we've seen what that has
looked like. And I understand people having concerns about the
company and e because of who the company's founder actually is.
(08:03):
But I would just remind us where the people who
have these concerns about the environment, and I want to
talk about those one by one.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Environmental concerns. Yeah, but this is the.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Same dude that came up with the electric car that
isn't battled by it right now, Tesla, we know they're
having a hard time, but it changed, It changed things.
It kind of turned the automotive industry upside down. Yeah,
and it had a whole lot to do with sustainability,
environmentally consciousness, environmentally conscious, being environmentally conscious, and that's been
(08:33):
something that we have heard throughout from the company and
the company lead that they have been concerned about environmental
They've been concerned about the environment.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Because many of the Tesla cars are electric.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, they're electric, and so but here's the thing regarding
this particular if not all, Yes they are. But here's
the thing about the company. They have throughout since our
first connection with them, been talking about how they are
concerned about the environment. What that has looked like is
them investing in making investments that actually are for the
benefit of the community. Despite the fear and a lot
(09:09):
of what we've heard about people's concerns. We just have
to tell the story to make sure people understand that
there's good information that actually speaks to some of the
fears and concerns that they have.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And I'm happy to talk more about that. Yeah, pollution, pollution,
let's talk air pollution, to begin. Yeah, well, I'll tell
you what before we.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Get an air pollution, let's because it started out again
us talking about water.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Oh yes, water.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
It started out with water. It was like there was
a go in.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And and and you know before I guess we got
concerned about water, and we probably wouldn't been It wouldn't
have been as concerned had not Germantown had their water issue. Right,
And then here comes x AI.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Right right right, and and what they found out is
the only let your luck site. And so the first
thing that I think hit the paper was, Hey, this
company's coming in and they will have access to one
million gallons of water per day from the aquifer. Well,
here's the thing that people should know is that any
(10:16):
company that was there had access to that amount because
that was the capacity that you could and you had
the ability to actually pull one million gallons of water
per day.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
So you're saying, including Electrolux, who was here primed, absolutely,
anybody in the industry leader's industry that move into that.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Site had that ability.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
That number that we're speaking of is not some strange thing.
But when people heard that, and if you aren't familiar
with how it works, that's actually wasn't something uncommon. But
when we heard that in people's concern about that, well,
what did the company do?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
They did not.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Their their statement was this their not going to pull
water from the aquifer to cool the super computer. Yeah,
because the supercomputer it has to be cool. And they
have this whole really fancy way that water does this.
They built a closed loop inside of the building which actually.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Sends water in.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It cools, a computer, comes out warm, they cool it
back down, goes in. And so they built a closed
loop inside of their building.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
That and this is built.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Now, that's been built.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
This is what they've used from the very beginning, they say,
at the very beginning. Okay, and so they were using
water from the aquifer, but they were using it in
a normal way that anyone will like at the water fountains.
But they were not using water from the aquifer for
industrial uses.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And are no, they are not. They have not.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
They never really did. From the very beginning of this,
they even brought water in. They were concerned and they
did not want to and have not pulled water from
the aquifer to cool the computer because that's not what
they wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So so we got all the water Mississippi and is
close to close to that area, right, so, and then
we got the aquifer, so they're not using either. They
brought they built their own system. They built their elect
in that building where electric where they that they bought
from Electrolux, yes to do that, and their own water
in the water.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
That's right. Here's the second part. Okay, there are other companies.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
In that area that use like TVA, they use about
six point the mayor, Mayor Young mentioned this Saturday at
that event that you mentioned, they use about six point
five million gallons of water per day from the aquifer.
So see the same way you just reacted to that.
That's the same audible gasp that we actually heard from
(12:52):
folks at that town hall meeting this past Saturday. Because again,
if you just it's putting things in the content. Now
you know that a million gallons a day and all
they're crazy because guess what, TVA, who's the largest consumer
of water, by the way, they're using six point five
million gallons of water every day.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
They do great work, by the way. So here's the issue, XAI.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Something that does not exist here, even though there have
been thoughts about it. They committed to build a wastewater.
We call it greywater wastewater recycle facility, which takes wastewater,
treats it, and to build a plant where not just
them they can plug into it, but also new Core
Steel is going to plug into it, and TVA is
(13:34):
going to plug into it so.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
TVA can get off some of the aquifers.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
So TVA will no longer pull water from the aquifer.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
God, they will pull and be using treated waste water
with the facility.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
That XAI is going to build. And it's going to
cost them. Get this, they're going to spend now mind
you it's a big company. Yeah, they're going to spend
eighty million dollars to build this wastewater recycle facility which
is going to allow four point seven billion gallons of
water per year to remain in the aquafer.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So so now, all the time that I've heard talk
about x AI, and even I've even talked to the
CEO of mlg W, again, nobody's explained it to me
like that. Well, and he did, kind of he did.
He made you know, let me take that back. I
think he did explain part of what you said. But
the way you've explained it to me in to me
(14:35):
in Laban's terms, because you know, a lot of us
we don't get all this talking to talk, you know,
y'all y'all be all bye head.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Right right, yeah, let me let me let me just
shout out.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
I'm a South Memphis born, White Haven Bread when I
die be Memphis, did I speak fluent barbershop?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Yes? Well, thank you, And that's what we need.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
We need people that will come to our level, you
know when in Rome, because we we don't understand all
of the you know, the lingo around all of this
because it is so sophisticated.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, and that's the thing too. Again, they talked about
this from the beginning. Now I want to because I
don't want to leave you there because what they just
did and the council, to their credit, approved the sale
of what thirteen to fifteen acres to Xai and they're
going to build the facility there.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Okay, now put a pin right there. Yes, I'm gonna
stop you and thank you guys for joining us. I
am stormy. It is the pulse, keeping our fingertips on
the pulse of our community. Bobby White with a greater
Memphis Chamber. Yes, now, Bobby, that is another concern. Okay,
so many people in the area White Haven or South
Memphis area where this the new facility will be built,
(15:48):
are concerned now as well, so much so that I
was on the air one day and somebody called me
and they said, I've been getting these soss since you
know he's come. And I don't know if it has
any to do with him or not, but this is
as far as their cell phone is concerned. So should
the people in that area South Memphis, Whitehaven, Memphis and
(16:10):
beyond Pauliaville, Mississippi. Should we be concerned Arkansas? Should we
all be concerned as well?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Well, this is what I'll say. I think that environmental concerns.
I think we just talked to the water. The next
biggest issue that is the hot topic now has to
do with air pollution. Yeah, because they have been running
gas turbines to power the supercomputer. And so here's the
(16:41):
thing about that. I tell you, I got good answers
for this stuff. Okay, Okay, here's the thing about the
gas turbines that XAI has been using. It's only about
fifteen of them. I kind of get that number mixed up,
fifteen to eighteen. I can't remember what number it is.
I've done tours out there for any number of elected officials.
And here's the thing about those actual gas turbines. Our
(17:04):
guy named Brent Mayo, who leaves that whole project, he
had to point out to our council members and others
that they actually are on right now. Because people have
this image in their head that there's this great stuff
coming out. Well, here's the thing to know. And this undercuts,
I want to say, undercut. It speaks to the concern
that so so many folks have, right Yeah, these are
(17:26):
not the gas turbines of old. These are not the
gas turbines we have in our head from the nineties.
And these pillows of smoking stuff, yeah, because that's what
in my head, that's what head smoke.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I want everybody to look up.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Look up this thing called selective catalytic reduction, selected selective
catalytic reduction gas turbines.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
And I'm gonna lean on.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I'm thirty years ago at more House, I took general
chemistry and organic chemistry. I'm gonna say it in a
chemical way first, and then I'm was said in a
plane spoken way. The chemical way, is this the nitrogen
oxide that would come from a normal gas turbine that
is the thing that people are concerned about, and that
it's toxic. With the selective catalytic reduction gas turbine, there
(18:17):
is the introduction of ammonia or urea, which combines with
the nitrogen gen oxide and produces water, vapor and nitrogen,
both of which are harmless. So the gas turbines that
has been so much concerned about these are not the
gas turbines of old. Look up SCR gas turbines.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It will let you know.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
This is why XAI, those gas turbines are viewed as
a minor pollutant. The mayor mentioned this Saturday in line
with similar to like a gas station or cleaners, because
is not producing the nitrogen oxide that is the thing
that everybody is concerned about.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
A Selective catalyctic reduction SCR is a technology that uses
a urea of based diesel exhaust fluid and a catalytic
converter to significantly reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah, I mean, if you look it up, see these
folks alike. I mean, these are the folks kind of
trying to chart a plan. Again, I make no apologies.
I have a thing about how people are treated.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
So let me say this.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I'm not here making any apologies for how the founder
of the company and things that have happened in DC.
I get all of that, but look, I have to
talk about what's in front of me. And what's in
front of me is the fact that we have gas
turbines that are not the type of gas turbines that
so many people are concerned about these things. These are
(19:49):
the same people charging course tomorls. They're using a gas
turbine that is absolutely fundamentally different than the gas turbines
that people have in their mind. It is maybe a
ninety reduction in terms of the type of things that
emits that could be harmful to people.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
So you're telling me that my old beat up car,
this is not a hooptie. It might be emitting more
of that stuff than the gas turbines.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
I won't say all that, but I will say, mayor
Young use the analogy of cleaners and gas stations. These
things are not viewed as a major pollutant. The folks
with the Health Department are ultimately going to share that information.
But frankly speaking, folks, again, Stormy, I just say this
that again, I listen, I have been in this space
(20:43):
of trying to promote our city for years.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Economic development is hard work.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
We have a gentleman, a person who leads our economic
development chief ecnom develop All. She's fluent in French. We
have a guy of Indian descent on that team. We
have a global VP who's from Canada. We have a
team that is around the world, around the nation, trying
to sell Memphis. It's been hard these last couple of years.
(21:11):
If you think about the top five stories coming out
of Olymphis over the last two years, three of them
have been major ugly crime events. The fourth one has
been the ascendancy of Glorilla. The fifth one has been
the super computer. So of these, I mean, if you
think about it, Gloriala has been the biggest thing outside
(21:31):
of those three.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yeah, but great.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, But I'm saying I'm not saying, oh no, no, I'm
not saying Gorilla is bad.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I'm saying I guess I misunderstood. But I guess when
you said it, I thought I look at it as
the biggest to me, and she's She's definitely up in there,
But the bigger to me would be Tyree Nichols.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, but Ezekiel Kelly. And then the third one, Yeah,
Liza Fletcher. Yeah, heart go out. I know folks connected
that is. It's horrific. It breaks your heart. Now think
about it. What is it like to go sell the
city of Memphis with the backdrop of those three national stories,
those three stories that hit the nation.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And here and here. But wait, there's more. They're not
the only stories.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
There are more. Yeah, but those are the three that
went nationwide. And then the gloriala we love glorially.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
I'm gonna make sure you understand that, right, yea Gloria glow.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Yeah, everybody will big glow. I ain't playing with them, no, But.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I mentioned that because those are the five biggest story
in the last is the supercomputer, right, So so to say,
and I know some folks who are going to be like,
they don't care as long as it has anything to
do with that founder. They don't want to have anything
to do, right, But that's twelve billion dollars right now.
It's the biggest thing we've seen in our history. And
it's going up.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
By tens and tens and teens more billions of dollars
with the new site.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
So I'm saying this to you story and it's all
out say is that I just want to make sure
that everybody understands we can't be too cavalier.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
About economic development in Memphis. We got to make sure
we're taking advantage of opportunities. And I hear somebody say that,
well they have concerns, Well listen, this is where we
have elected officials.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
This is why we kick tires on stuff. We don't
just believe what people say and we search things out.
But again, this goes back to why those environmental concerns.
I wanted to at least share that information because I
think that'll put a lot of people in a different
mindset about the project over.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, this is yeah, and thank you for that, and
thank you for you know, the way you've shared it is.
But it's definitely been one of those topics that a
lot of people have talked about because everybody's concerned. And
you know, it's not just Memphis, like I said, it's
the other municipalities around us who have no say so
(23:51):
and what happens in Memphis, but will feel the effects
should it be negative.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Right, I will say this too. Story you mentioned about
how this company and how it might be for instance,
pulling on our grid. Well here's the third and there's
a fourth, but here's the third.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Ok. The third thing is they have introduced Tesla Mega packs.
Now forget about how Tesla stock is stumbling and all that.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Yeah, right again, Tesla Mega packs are essentially like a
self contained kind of thing where it's battery where essentially,
uh it is like battery backup.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, it's it's it's the things that they use for
the solar power.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Is that it's like, well, it's like one of those
things where solar panels, right right, Well they are well
I don't know if I can say that yet.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I don't know if I can talk about the solar Well,
let me just say this, Okay, Tesla Mega packs are
essentially just think big batteries, right yeah, so I heard
about that they capture, yeah, and then they go back
and support the grid.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
So here's the thing about these Tesla Mega packs. These
Tesla Mega packs are actually strengthening our electrical grid by
actually being in that space like you know, when we've
had those advanced hey don't run your turn, your turn,
your power down?
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yeah yeah, the.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Right, right, right, Well, Tesla Mega packs are standing there
and in the space now where we become like ground
zero for Tesla megapacks, and those megapacks are essentially like
battery storage that supports the grid, that supports the electrical grid.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
So now in addition to the grey water facility.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
We also now have this investment of these Tesla megapacks
that are a great thing.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
They're batteries.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
You can talk about energy opportunities and expanding how we
are able to support these demands. Like when we had
those events most recently, those Tesla Mega packs out, the
company pulled off of the grid all together, so they
weren't pulling any power from electric grid and you know
they ran off of Tesla megapacks. So just know that
(25:59):
those testament not just for them. The Tesla megapects are
providing support to mlgn W and the TVA. So just
know that that's just another way that we're taking advantage
of an investment from the company.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Wow, that's a lot is a short amount of time.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
But how did you do that?
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Well, the problem is is that I appreciate the opportunity
to talk about it, and it's hard to get this
stuff into soundbites.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
That's one of the problems.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yes, but you need a little longer to make sure
people understand this. So we're trying to do a better
job to talk about it. And I just really appreciate
the opportunity to come and talk about it.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
I'm glad you did. I'm glad somehow another I guess
it was God.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Well, well, we praise the Lord for every opportunity to
be anywhere, breathing and alive.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
But I tell you what, I'm just happy to see
you Stone.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Okay, listen, it's the weekend, it's close to the Sunday,
and for those a lot of folks listening on this
Sunday were gonna give him the glory, let him have it. Yeah,
we are both here for that reason, because of him.
So we'll say we're here for But at any rate,
let me say thank you again for coming and sharing
(27:08):
all of this. And I'm just trying to make sure
I don't forget anything.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Well let me can I say this absolutely, I want
to make sure people know and understand. I want I
love when people are paying attention, and so the concerns
are legitimate. I mean, my mother in law, my mother
in law has five degrees and and she's been concerned,
and so I want to make sure people understand that
(27:34):
those concerns means that they're concerned about their community.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
I am too. Listen, look southwest Southwest Memphis.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I used to go to Candid Lady on Western Park
across from the Bernard Residents, and went to Double Tree
where my mom taught and my dad was assistant principal
at Westwood High.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I grew up in that community. Even I was South
Memphis and then white Haven, but went to school there.
So I look. I saw my sixth grade teacher, Missus Berkeley,
at that meeting. The other day, the mayor head at.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Riverside Church got out to Ribbend boys. I'll just say
this that we are concerned. We are absolutely concerned, and
we are paying attention. And this isn't one of those
things where it's economic development at any cost. This is
economic development with us having counted up the costs and
understanding that us taking advantage of this is not at
(28:23):
the risk of having these gas turbines just anywhere or
pulling water from the aquifer. Neither of those things is
really I hope that I've given enough explanation that share.
So we're concerned, we're paying attention, and I just again
appreciate the opportunity to talk a little bit more about it.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, and I want to say thank you for doing that.
I'm going to have to probably ask you to come back.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Sure, I love to I love to you.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
I love to because I'm sure that what you said
is going to spark more questions. And I have more questions,
but I just don't have time to ask no words.
But for those of you that listen to this show,
please go back and listen to the podcast so that
you can hear it again and so that you can
get a clear understanding. I think I'm gonna have to
(29:08):
listen to it myself so that I can get a
clear understanding, because I want it in my head so
that when people ask me, I know what to say,
you know what I'm saying, or know where to send them.
I can always send them, send them to the podcast.
Or should I give them your cell phone numbers? Well,
I don't want me to do that. No, no, no, no,
I love the Lord. But you know listen, I will
(29:28):
say this too. We're trying to make this easier.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
We're going to have some materials and working the mayor
and other elected officials, so you'll see more information out
that that is plane spoken that it explains very simply
so people can understand why the air pollution issue that
people are really worried about is not as much an
issue as you.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Really are an aquifer or the aquifer.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
We want to make sure it people and our lights
and even the tesla mean we want to make yeah,
the electrical grid. How the presence of the company has
been a benefit not a detriment.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Oh more more toica.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Okay, all right, you guys, I'm Stormy. It's the Pulse
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Bobby White,
thank you again. Thank you for coming to be a
part of the show. Man. Y'all, y'all gotta go check
out the podcast again. Listen to this again, okay, and
share it with your friends. I'm gonna post it on Monday.
It'll be on all of our station websites and on
the Pulse, so it'd be the latest podcast. Go listen
(30:23):
and like I said, share it with your friends. But
thank you again for listening to the show today as
we keep our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Again,
I'm Stormy. Thank you, Bobby, thank you, and we'll see
you next week, same time, same station, God bless you
have a great week.
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