Industrial

ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, OHIO AND OREGON — Intel Corp. and the U.S. Department of Commerce have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) for up to $8.5 billion in direct funding to Intel for commercial semiconductor projects under the CHIPS and Science Act. The proposed funding would help advance Intel’s critical semiconductor manufacturing and research-and-development (R&D) projects at its sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon. CHIPS Act funding aims to increase U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research and development (R&D) capabilities. According to a release, Intel is the only American company that both designs and manufactures leading-edge logic chips. “Today is a defining moment for the U.S. and Intel as we work to power the next great chapter of American semiconductor innovation,” says Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger. “Artificial intelligence is supercharging the digital revolution, and everything digital needs semiconductors.” Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel is building two new fabrication plants in Chandler, Ariz. The new factories on the company’s Ocotillo campus are part of Intel’s multibillion-dollar global manufacturing build-out, which includes new or expanded facilities in Oregon, New Mexico, Ohio, Malaysia, Ireland, Poland, Israel and Germany. Construction is underway on Intel’s Fab 9 factory in Rio Rancho, N.M. Fab …