Micron Green CHIPS Sustainability Requirements
As part of New York State’s Green CHIPS legislation, championed and signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, Micron will be required to manufacture semiconductors under leading-edge sustainability commitments designed to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact, including utilizing 100% renewable energy, attaining LEED Gold status, and committing to greenhouse gas emission targets and reporting.
Micron will be required to submit a Green CHIPS Sustainability Plan in compliance with the Green CHIPS program regulations, subject to the approval by ESD. Micron will strive for the highest standards practicable and that, at a minimum, will include commitments to:
- Utilize 100% renewable energy for electricity and maintain that 100% renewable energy for electricity supply for the duration of the expected 20-year duration of the project
- Achieve a minimum Gold LEED status for all chip fabs and office buildings, with commercially reasonable efforts made to achieve Platinum status at all Fabs and office buildings
- Commit to meeting applicable and mutually agreed GHG emissions standards specific to the Fab Complex that are reasonable and achievable given the state of technology advancements
- Install on-site renewable energy systems and on-site battery storage systems to contribute to the project’s energy needs to the extent practicable, including for resilience, peak-shaving, grid benefits, and other applications
- Where feasible and cost effective - utilize green hydrogen to displace/replace natural gas and gray hydrogen consumption, support /participate in New York’s federal Hydrogen Hub proposal; and pursue other clean measures such as geothermal heat pumps for space heating and cooling loads
- Adopt other mitigation measures for GHG process emissions where practicable
- Incorporate energy efficiency and electrification where feasible throughout the term
- Encourage contractors to utilize, to the extent practicable, low-carbon construction vehicles and equipment and incorporate low-carbon building materials (green steel, green cement, etc.) into construction
- Commit to environmentally sound practices, including green infrastructure such as permeable pavement, stormwater runoff management solutions, and sustainable wastewater management
- Report annually the project’s progress related to the commitments made in the agreement and on its greenhouse gas emissions