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Micron's $100B Chip Plant Faces Community Demands
21 Jan
Summary
- Coalition demands legally binding commitments from Micron.
- Micron's megafab is New York's largest commercial development.
- A 91-year-old displaced from her home for the plant.
A coalition of New York advocacy groups is pressing tech giant Micron to commit to legally enforceable community benefits for its massive $100 billion chip factory. This megafab, slated to be the state's largest commercial development, broke ground recently near Syracuse.
The Central New York United for Community Benefits Coalition, comprising 25 local organizations, seeks strong, transparent commitments. They aim to negotiate a community benefits agreement that codifies Micron's pledges on local hiring, environmental safeguards, and regional investment.
This campaign follows similar successful efforts nationwide, where community benefits agreements have ensured investments in schools, affordable housing, and local procurement. Such agreements can also neutralize opposition and facilitate smoother project integration.
Micron's project, receiving bipartisan support and potentially up to $25 billion in public subsidies, faces scrutiny due to the significant water and power demands of chip manufacturing. The coalition hopes this campaign will serve as a template for future development projects.
Concerns remain regarding potential environmental pollution and economic inequality. The displacement of a 91-year-old woman from her home of 60 years to make way for the facility has also become a point of contention.
