Micron Technology R&D facility in Boise, Idaho. (Photo: Micron)
By Christina Phillips
Micron Technology, a semiconductor company and the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, announced the company and the Biden-Harris Administration have signed a non-binding Preliminary Memorandum of Terms (PMT) for $6.1 billion in funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to support planned memory manufacturing in Idaho and New York.
In a news release on April 25, Micron said the CHIPS and Science Act grants of $6.1 billion will support the company’s plans to invest approximately $50 billion in gross capex for U.S. domestic memory manufacturing through 2030.
The company said these grants and additional state and local incentives will support the construction of one memory manufacturing fab to be co-located with the company’s existing R&D facility in Boise, Idaho, and the construction of two memory fabs in Clay, NY.
According to Micron, the investments represent the first step toward the company’s vision of both a “leading-edge” R&D and manufacturing center in Boise, Idaho, and a four-fab manufacturing complex in Clay, NY, to be built over the next 20-plus years with potential investment totaling up to $125 billion. These investments will support Micron’s objective to grow its memory bit supply in line with long-term industry bit demand growth.
Micron said it retains flexibility under the PMT to remain responsive to market conditions over time. In addition to the announced $6.1 billion in grants, workforce grants to support Micron said its efforts to build a vibrant talent pipeline are also being finalized.
In addition to the CHIPS grants, Micron said it expects to benefit from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Investment Tax Credit, which provides a credit of 25% for qualified capital investments. The state of New York has made up to $5.5 billion available in incentives over the life of the project, comprised of a 5% New York investment tax credit on qualified capital investments and 7.5% of eligible non-construction labor costs.
Micron and the state of New York also established the Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund to support community and workforce development in the region. The company said it will also benefit from an incentive package in the state of Idaho, including reduced state taxes related to the project and substantial investments in semiconductor workforce training programs.
Micron reported that its planned semiconductor manufacturing facilities are expected to create approximately 75,000 domestic jobs over the next 20-plus years and strengthen U.S. economic and national security, furthering American innovation and competition for years to come. In Idaho, this includes 2,000 Micron jobs, 4,500 construction jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs. In New York, this includes 9,000 Micron jobs, 4,500 construction jobs and 40,000 indirect jobs.
Micron said its plans will help to bolster the economies and quality of life in both Idaho and New York. The two projects, as planned, will represent the single largest private investments ever made in the states of Idaho and New York, the company said.
“This is a historic moment for semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. “Micron’s leading-edge memory is foundational to meeting the growing demands of artificial intelligence, and we are proud to be making significant memory manufacturing investments in the U.S., which will create many high-tech jobs. We appreciate the foresight of U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the bipartisan delegation in Congress that supported the CHIPS and Science Act. Their steadfast focus championing these strategic investments will ensure U.S. semiconductor competitiveness for generations to come.”
“Leading-edge memory chips are foundational to all advanced technologies, and thanks to President Biden’s leadership, America is rebuilding its capacity to produce these critical capabilities for the first time in almost two decades,” said Secretary Raimondo. “With this proposed investment, we are working to deliver on one of the core objectives of President Biden’s CHIPS program – onshoring the development and production of the most advanced memory semiconductor technology which is crucial for safeguarding our leadership on artificial intelligence and protecting our economic and national security. With these proposed investments, coupled with Micron’s historic private investment of up to $125 billion in New York and Idaho over the next 20 years, President Biden is working to revitalize U.S. technological leadership and creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.”
“This monumental and historic federal investment will power Micron to bring to life its transformative $100+ billion microchip mega-fab project in Central New York, creating an estimated 50,000 good-paying jobs and rebuild the Upstate New York economy one microchip at a time. This project is a rebirth, a dramatic turning point for Upstate New York, and will reverse decades of lost manufacturing jobs and make the region a global epicenter for cutting-edge microchip manufacturing,” said Senator Schumer. “Central New York will be the beating heart of America’s most advanced memory chip production and the comeback of American manufacturing. Without the federal incentives funded by the CHIPS & Science Law I crafted and led to passage, Micron’s mammoth project would not be happening. I wrote the CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate New York – and investments like Micron’s – as my north star, and it is exciting and wonderful that this vision is becoming a reality.”
Micron said the company is also appreciative of New York Governor Kathy Hochul who championed the Green CHIPS legislation and partnered with Micron to create the Community Investment Framework to revitalize central New York. Additional federal, state and local leaders have played a pivotal role in the development of Micron’s plans including, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator James Risch, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.
“As the first Governor from Upstate New York in more than a century, I knew we needed to revitalize the upstate economy and transform New York State into a national leader in semiconductor manufacturing and research. The combination of federal funding and our Green CHIPS program is the formula for success,” said Governor Hochul. “I spent months advocating for Micron to come to New York and this megafab will be a game changer, setting the stage for regional transformation. This is just the beginning of what we’ll accomplish together, but none of it would be possible without the partnership of President Biden, Commerce Secretary Raimondo, New York’s congressional delegation, the New York State legislature and our local stakeholders.”
“Micron is already a leader for and from Idaho, but the latest commitments and funding mean that Micron will be a national and global leader for decades to come,” said Governor Little. “Micron and the State of Idaho have a long-standing partnership, and I look forward to our continued cooperation as we pursue a shared goal of building opportunity for Idahoans through chip manufacturing.”
In addition to the Idaho and New York projects, Micron said it has submitted an application under the CHIPS program to the Department of Commerce to modernize its Manassas, Va., fab for the production of long-lifecycle chips to support customer demand in areas such as automotive, industrial, aerospace and defense.
More information:
micron.com
forefrontmedianews.wordpress.com 