Work begins at Micron site

TOWN OF CLAY- Last Friday was a big day for Micron’s proposed $100 billion development in the town of Clay.
On Friday morning, Micron’s top officials gathered at the White Pine site with County Executive Ryan McMahon, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Clay Supervisor Damian Ulatowski and other local officials to update the community on progress made at the site.
As part of an ongoing environmental survey of the site, Micron is in the process of boring 270 soil samples. Those samples will help them delineate wetlands and guide the depth of the foundations for the massive chip fab plants.
Each of the four plants will be 1.2 million square feet, including 600,000 square feet of clean room space. They will be the approximate height of the JMA Wireless Dome.
Scott Gatzemeier, the corporate vice president of Micron who is tasked with overseeing the construction project, said area residents can expect to see ongoing work related to the environmental survey over the next several months.
“When you think of something that large, the foundation is incredibly important,” Gatzemeier said. “So these studies that we’re going to do are going to really help us make strong and lasting foundations right here in Clay, New York.”
He said it is Micron’s goal to make this plant the most environmentally sustainable chip fab plant in the world.
“That reflects the commitment of Micron to building an environmentally friendly, sustainable and of course, community friendly site here,” said Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. “This is an important milestone, an important start.”
Following the event in Clay, the executives and public officials caravanned down to the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse, where Gov. Kathy Hochul awaited for another event to announce the formation of a new committee made up of a diverse array of Central New Yorkers as well as Micron officials that will be tasked with guiding the use of the $250 million that Micron has pledged for community building in Central New York.
The 15-person committee will be chaired by Melanie Littlejohn of National Grid and Tim Penix of the SUNY Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center. Ulatowski will also serve on the committee.
April Arnzen, chief people officer at Micron, said the Community Engagement Committee will focus its attention on STEM education, workforce development, childcare, housing and other infrastructure developments with a special focus on helping underserved communities.
“From my very early meetings with Micron, I have been extraordinarily impressed with their commitment to the community,” Littlejohn said.