Shelby County commission asks TVA and MLGW for timeline on XAI grid connection after residents report dozens of turbines

Shelby County Commissioners on Wednesday asked Tennessee Valley Authority and Memphis Light, Gas & Water to spell out remaining steps and timing to connect XAI to the local electric grid, saying the answers are needed to end use of temporary gas turbines at the company's South Memphis site.

The request, sponsored by Commissioner Erica Sugarman and seconded in committee by Commissioner Edmond Ford Jr., passed with a favorable committee recommendation and a later amendment requiring monthly updates to the commission on the status of grid connection and permitting. The Hospitals & Health Committee also recorded extensive public comment from residents and community groups who said dozens of turbines are operating now and urged county and state agencies to act quickly.

Why this matters: Residents and advocates said sustained turbine operation is already harming air quality in parts of South Memphis and Whitehaven, ZIP codes 38109 and 38116, areas community speakers identified as having elevated respiratory and cancer rates. County health staff said they are actively reviewing permit comments and that it could be "weeks" before the department reaches a permitting decision; they said a permit issued for turbines that have operated more than 364 days converts those units to a permanent source under county permitting rules.

The department’s timeline and limits Casey Smith Alexander, deputy director of the Shelby County Health Department, told the committee the department has received hundreds of public comments and is reviewing them. She said staff are actively working through the submissions and that it will likely be "weeks"…