SpaceX, the company that owns Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, is offering 50% off internet plans around Memphis, Tennessee.
The company did not specifically say why it was offering the discount, but it may have something to do with community anger over the xAI-owned data centers that SpaceX bought earlier this year. The company noted that it has data centers in Memphis and nearby Southhaven, Mississippi, likely part of a PR push to associate something positive with the company that has so many retreats in the area.
“Starlink is implementing a service discount for our neighbors in the Memphis area,” the company said. announcement. “Earlier this year, SpaceX acquired xAI (now SpaceXAI), which operates the Colossus data centers in Memphis and Southaven. As SpaceX continues to invest in the Memphis area, we are offering a discount on eligible monthly Starlink service plans.”
The data center in Memphis operates using gas turbines, which local environmental activists have warned are polluting the region. The methane gas turbines were reportedly installed without public notice, proper permits or proper air pollution controls. according to Southern Environmental Law Center and the NAACP.
The NAACP sued xAI in April over the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis, alleging the tech company illegally operated gas turbines and violated the Clean Air Act.
“xAI’s decision to install and operate dozens of polluting gas turbines without any permits or public oversight is a clear violation of the Clean Air Act,” said Patrick Anderson, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. posted online.
Eligibility for discounted Starlink service depends on service address, and an online map shows coverage in Memphis, Southhaven and Collierville. as Bloomberg notes that the price of Starlink can vary from $55 to $130 per month depending on the plan.
SpaceX went public earlier this month, catapulting founder Elon Musk to trillionaire status. The stock price has been on a roller coaster since its recent debut, but has spent the last few days recovering. The stock closed just above $170 on Tuesday, down from just over $201 on June 16. Musk’s estimated net worth is listed by Forbes at $1.1 trillion. 1.4 trillion dollars June 16. There’s no denying that Musk’s net worth is closely tied to SpaceX’s stock price.
XAI representatives did not respond to emailed questions on Tuesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.
