Micron says greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas will be 'unavoidably significant'
When Micron is fully operational in Onondaga County in 2045, it’s expected to use enough energy to power New Hampshire and Vermont combined. That energy, in part, will come from billions of cubic feet of natural gas, generating greenhouse gas emissions that, according to Micron, will have a significant impact on the five-county area and state.
Natural gas is a fuel that’s produced natural and derived from the earth. Though it may be natural, that doesn’t mean it’s green. When burned for energy, natural gas produces carbon dioxide and emits methane — a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
As it stands, the mega campus is expected to use about 8,400 BCF on natural gas per year — roughly six times the amount of natural gas the entire state of New York used in 2022. Tim Judson, the executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, says those numbers worry him.
“We still have all the pollution in Onondaga Lake and other Superfund sites in the area from past mistakes that we had with industrial facilities,” Judson said. “Micron could end up being a similar story.”
According to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Micron is aware of the risk.
“The GHG emissions that would result from construction and operation of the Proposed Project are expected to be unavoidably significant. Even with significant avoidance and minimization efforts as well as mitigation, GHG emissions associated with operation of the Micron fabs and related facilities will represent a significant increase in overall GHG emissions in the Five County Area and New York State,” it reads. “Most of the emissions would be the result of natural gas combustion, energy consumption, and process emissions needed for the DRAM manufacturing process. Natural Gas combustion, and the resulting GHG emissions, are considered an unavoidable necessity for implementation of the Preferred Action Alternative.”
The use of natural gas, however, does not align with the state’s energy priorities for the future, which aligns with the clean energy and climate targets set by the Climate Act and aims to have a zero-emission electricity system by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050.
For now, National Grid is working on expanding its substation in Clay to help Micron meet its energy needs. Changes regarding Micron’s plan for renewable energy could come with the expected release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement this week.