ALBANY — The NYISO Operating Committee on Aug. 14 approved the system impact study for the second of Micron Technology’s semiconductor chip manufacturing centers slated to begin construction later in 2025 in the town of Clay, N.Y.
Micron’s facilities, also known as fabricators (or “fabs”), are a major contributor to the forecasted load growth in New York state, according to NYISO. This facility, “Fab 2,” will draw 576 MW from the grid. When combined with another fabricator at the same site, the total load will be 1,056 MW. Two other fabricators are also planned at the site over the next 20 years.
Clay is a mostly residential suburb of Syracuse with a population of roughly 60,000, according to census data. Micron’s facility will be the largest electric customer in the town by far. When completed, the chip factory will be the largest manufacturing facility in Onondaga County.
The SIS found that the Micron facility will require upgrades to the local grid. Overloads would occur on several local 245-kV lines and substations, so a new substation will be needed. The study also found voltage transfer degradation, which would require upgrades to nearby interfaces.
National Grid estimated that $139.7 million in network upgrades are required, and the new substation will cost $122.2 million. Other upgrades to nearby transmission interfaces would total about $17 million.
The OC also approved eight SIS scopes, all for data centers spread out across the state. If completed, these data centers would collectively draw over 2,100 MW from the grid.
