The following commentary was submitted by George Lorefice, of Manlius, president of Climate Change Awareness & Action Inc., on behalf of eight other members of the group. Their names appear below.

Climate Change Awareness & Action, Inc. (CCAA) is a 501(c)(3) organization which was formed in 2015 for the purpose of educating others and actively working towards reversing the human-caused climate disruption that threatens the earth. We are committed to increasing awareness and to spurring action on mitigating climate change.

As an organization concerned about climate change, our focus over the last 10 years has been on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GhGe), the cause of climate change, and their impact, as well as focusing on what can be done to alleviate the serious challenge we are facing.

Micron’s Environmental Impact Statement spells out the significant impact Micron will have on the Central New York environment. We deem it imperative to comment on that impact and suggest ways to reduce it. Therefore, we call upon Micron and our legislators to do the following:

• Micron should fulfill its commitment to 100% renewable energy. Micron should be sourcing its own electricity and not draw from existing sources. Micron should fund projects that lower energy demand by increasing efficiency.
• Micron should reduce the use of natural gas with its resulting GhGe in the production of chips and associated infrastructure on the campus as technological innovations are made available. And Micron must commit to the use of heat pumps and other electrification and energy saving strategies.
• To OCIDA and Onondaga County and federal legislators, closely monitor Micron’s adherence to their promises and commitments by keeping pressure on them to minimize their impact on the environment and, to state legislators, ensure compliance with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Our position is based on the need to support fair and just public policies and legislation, respecting the Environmental Amendment to New York State’s Constitution, the Clean Air, Clean Water Acts, the CHIPS Act and the CLCPA in order to maintain a healthy environment.

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the CO2 concentration has increased from about 280 parts per million to over 427ppm today and it is climbing. We have literally changed the atmosphere we depend on for life.

Micron is potentially a $100 billion investment in Onondaga County if all four fabs are built. According to Micron, it will provide 9,000 good-paying jobs. It will truly transform our county and Central New York. It is beyond the scope of CCAA to ascertain whether the benefits will outweigh possible negatives. But we don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past where good-paying jobs resulted in Onondaga Lake becoming one of the most polluted water bodies in the United States.

In its initial proposals, Micron repeatedly stated that the development would be powered by 100% renewable energy. Micron also indicated that they invested significant resources in data collection and research on the land and surrounding areas to support this promise. They must be held accountable to the commitments that they have made.

CCAA is not opposed to growth or change. We want our community to prosper. We do urge a more robust conversation about benefits and possible negative impacts.

We understand that a commitment to helping New York state build out its renewable energy sector is not an easy undertaking. Micron has the potential of being a leader in assisting New York state to build out a grid based on renewable energy. Wind, solar and hydro with batteries will have to be expanded. Storage capacity will have to be developed and the grid updated — a costly and time-consuming process. The good news is all these technologies currently exist and are advancing. This development will be an asset for all of New York state to benefit from and a credit to Micron. It is a question of political will.

We are not recommending nuclear as a source for Micron’s need for electricity, as this is the most expensive method of producing electricity with a long constructiontimeline. Solar, wind and hydro, with batteries, are the least expensive options with short construction timelines.

The scientific community is united in saying that unless we stop increasing the GhGe, we will experience more extreme weather events, making life on this planet increasingly inhospitable. Or we can choose a path that will lead to stabilizing the GhGe concentration and ultimately bring it down to a more livable level.

The time frame is shorter than most people realize. Micron must do its part.

George Lorefice, President | Manlius

Peter Wirth, Vice President | Fayetteville

Reena Tretler, Secretary | DeWitt

Van Cleary Hammarstedt, Treasurer | Fayetteville

Jan Kublick, Micron Committee Co-Chair | Tully

Jim Doherty, Education Committee Co-chair | Tully

Ken Johnson, Education Committee Co-Chair and Membership Committee Chair | Onondaga

Roseann Lorefice, Newsletter Editor and Chair | Manlius

Sonia Kragh, Micron Committee Co-Chair and Sustainability Committee Chair | DeWitt