Intel plans massive expansion at Oregon campus
Intel is planning a massive Expansion at its campus in Oregon, with plans for new buildings and undisclosed enhancements that may surpass the last upgrade’s scope. The upcoming revamp is part of the chipmaker’s broader effort to revamp its iconic R&D site, with no specific financial details revealed. The last upgrade cost $3 billion and added over one million square feet to the campus.
The Gordon Moore Park campus is home to five fabrication plants and 22,000 employees, making Intel Oregon its largest corporate employer. The upcoming work will likely result in significant capital investment and the creation of hundreds or thousands of jobs, though the company has not specified any employment targets.
According to a permit application filed with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Intel plans to build a new module for its D1X R&D facility, as well as “additional buildings” on the site. It also plans unspecified “enhancements” to its D1A fab, which was last upgraded in 2013.
New equipment installation is expected to begin in 2025, with completion by 2028. The permit application also seeks permission to double greenhouse gas emissions, making it a “major source” of regulated pollutants.
“Major source” status under the Clean Air Act requires the company to develop and implement a plan to reduce emissions, and could result in penalties if it fails to do so. However, permit applications are not formal commitments, and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger recently expressed a desire for “substantial” growth at the site.
“We’re continuing to invest in Moore Park, building out our leading-edge manufacturing capabilities and accelerating our expansion plans,” Gelsinger says. “This is all part of our relentless pursuit to stay on the cutting edge of technology.”
The last major upgrade at Moore Park cost $3 billion and added over one million square feet to the campus. The upcoming expansion could surpass this, with plans for additional buildings and undisclosed enhancements.
“We’re continuing to invest in Moore Park, building out our leading-edge manufacturing capabilities and accelerating our expansion plans.”– Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger
Intel’s previous update to Moore Park saw the construction of Fab 18, a 300mm wafer plant capable of producing 14-nanometer and 10nm chips. The new enhancement plans could involve 7nm and beyond, but the company has not shared any specifics.
The new equipment installation is expected to begin in 2025, with completion by 2028. The company has not issued any press releases regarding the plans, but an environmental permit application was submitted to the Oregon DEQ on May 3.
OregonLive reports that the expansion could lead to “hundreds or thousands” of new jobs, but Intel has not issued any specific job projections.
The company’s permit application also seeks to double the amount of greenhouse gases it can emit. Under the Clean Air Act, major sources of greenhouse gases are required to develop and implement plans to reduce emissions. However, such plans are not formal commitments, and it’s unclear whether the company will be required to develop one.
The DEQ says it “will review and make a decision based on the merits of the application,” but notes that “the applicant is not required to meet all the conditions of the permit.”
