A coalition of environmental and labor groups is urging the U.S. Commerce Department to conduct more thorough reviews of federally funded semiconductor projects, specifically in connection to two big expansions in Arizona and one in Idaho.
CHIPS Communities United, a coalition of labor unions, environmental organizations and community groups, issued the statement on Aug. 9, on the second anniversary of President Biden’s signing of the CHIPS and Science Act. The complaint also came one day after Governor Katie Hobbs, Commerce and White House officials visited Tempe to mark a potential $400 million grant to Amkor Technology for its proposed semiconductor testing, assembly and packaging complex in Peoria.
The complaint by CHIPS Communities United criticized the Commerce Department for issuing “findings of no significant impact” and failing to conduct full environmental impact statements for three megaprojects: Intel’s expanding semiconductor plant in Chandler, the massive Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. project taking shape in north Phoenix and the Micron Technology factory in Idaho.