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Chip Manufacturing Shortcuts Harm Our Health And Environment
The recent passage of the Building Chips in America Act has raised concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts of exempting federally funded chip manufacturing projects from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. As we move towards a clean energy future, it’s essential to ensure that our chip-making processes are not only innovative but also sustainable.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the dark history of microchip production in Silicon Valley, where years of dirty practices have left a trail of hazardous waste and environmental devastation. The consequences of this pollution can be seen in the numerous Superfund sites scattered throughout Santa Clara County, with birth defects and miscarriages linked to organic solvent contamination from local chip plants.
The reality is that current US chip manufacturing processes release thousands of pounds of chemical compounds into the air each year, including acid gases and ammonia. In addition, Intel’s Hillsboro facility was fined by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for failing to control emissions of acid gases. Furthermore, the Chandler plant produced an astonishing 15,000 tons of waste in just three months, with over half of that being hazardous.
One class of chip-making chemicals, per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is particularly concerning due to their association with various health issues and environmental pollution. These “forever chemicals” are extremely persistent, making them nearly impossible to clean up once released into the environment.
As we move forward with large-scale microchip production projects in Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina, it’s imperative that we prioritize community protections and innovation away from PFAS and other harmful chemicals used in chipmaking. We cannot build a sustainable future on a dirty foundation.
Source: http://www.forbes.com
