The company didn’t specifically say why it was offering the discount, but it may have something to do with community anger over data centers owned by xAI, which SpaceX purchased earlier this year. The company noted that it has data centers in Memphis and nearby Southaven, Mississippi, which is likely part of a PR push to associate something positive with the company that is getting so much pushback in the area.
“Starlink is implementing service discounts for our neighbors in the Memphis area,” the company said in its announcement. “Earlier this year, SpaceX acquired
The data center in Memphis operates using gas turbines, which local environmental activists warn is contributing to pollution in the area. According to the Southern Environmental Law Center and the NAACP, methane gas turbines have reportedly been installed without public notice, proper permits, or required air pollution controls.
The NAACP sued xAI in April over the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis, claiming the tech company was illegally operating gas turbines and violating 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,” Patrick Anderson, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement posted online.
Eligibility for discounted Starlink service is dependent on service address and a map online shows coverage in Memphis, Southaven and Collierville. As Bloomberg notes, Starlink can cost $55 to $130 per month, depending on the plan.
SpaceX went public earlier this month, catapulting founder Elon Musk to billionaire status. The share price has been on a roller coaster ride since its recent inception, but the price has recovered in recent days. The stock closed Tuesday at just over $170, down from a high of $201 hit on June 16. Musk’s estimated net worth is listed by Forbes as $1.1 trillion, down from $1.4 trillion as of June 16. It cannot be denied that Musk’s net worth is deeply tied to SpaceX’s stock price.
Representatives of XAI did not respond to emailed questions on Tuesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.
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