Micron Technology announces plans to build largest megafab in U.S. history

Micron Technology, the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, announced plans to build the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in the history of the U.S.

Micron says the new megafab will increase domestic supply of leading-edge memory and create nearly 50,000 jobs.

Micron intends to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20 years to build the megafab in Clay, N.Y., with the first-phase investment of $20 billion planned by the end of this decade.

Micron’s investment in Onondaga County, N.Y., will complement the company’s previously announced high-volume manufacturing fab in Boise, Idaho. Micron will design, build and operate the facility in accordance with its sustainability goals. The site could eventually include four 600,000-square-foot cleanrooms, for a total of 2.4 million square feet of cleanroom space.

Micron says its New York megafab is part of its strategy to gradually increase American-made leading-edge DRAM production to 40% of the company’s global output over the next decade. Site preparation work will start in 2023, construction will begin in 2024 and production output will ramp in the latter half of the decade, gradually increasing in line with industry demand trends.

Micro says locating its DRAM production in the U.S. “brings tremendous benefits for its customers, enabling them to build their innovative products and solutions using a more resilient, secure and geographically diverse supply chain.

“This historic leading-edge memory megafab in central New York will deliver benefits beyond the semiconductor industry by strengthening U.S. technology leadership as well as economic and national security, driving American innovation and competitiveness for decades to come,” said Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra.

Micron and the state of New York also announced a historic $500 million investment in community and workforce development with a focus on disadvantaged populations over the duration of the project.

Micron will invest $250 million over the next 20-plus years as part of the company’s commitment to the Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund. An additional $250 million is expected to be invested, with $100 million from New York and $150 million from local, other state and national partners.

Micron will design and operate its new megafab in line with the company’s sustainability framework and commitments. Micron aims to use 100% renewable electricity at the new facility.

Additionally, Micron plans to use green infrastructure and sustainable building attributes for the construction of the New York fab to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for the new facility will be mitigated and controlled by using state-of-the-art technology. These efforts support Micron’s global target to achieve a 42% reduction in GHG emissions from operations by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.