Biden signs law to exempt US chipmakers from federal environmental reviews

President Joe Biden has signed a law exempting certain U.S. chip manufacturing facilities from federal environmental reviews. This applies to projects receiving subsidies under the $52.7 billion CHIPS Act of 2022, aiming to avoid delays from additional reviews. The U.S. Commerce Department has allocated over $35 billion for 26 projects, including funding for companies like Samsung, Intel, and Micron. Proponents argue these projects already meet existing environmental regulations. While the White House supports environmental standards, groups like the Sierra Club stress the need for reviews to ensure community safety. The bipartisan legislation is intended to strengthen U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.