Intel—Expanding operations in drought-stressed Arizona using 9M gallons of water daily
Intel's Chandler, Arizona manufacturing operations use 9 million gallons (34 million liters) of water daily in an area experiencing high or extremely high water stress. The Verde and Salt rivers supplying Intel's Arizona operations recorded record-low water levels, raising questions about expanding semiconductor facilities in areas where water access is likely to be a permanent problem.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Action | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Environmental Sustainability | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.429 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (medium ×1) × confidence (0.57)
Evidence (1 signal)
The Register reported Intel's 9M gallon daily water use in drought-stressed Arizona
The Register reported that Intel's Chandler manufacturing operations use 9 million gallons (34 million liters) of water daily in an area experiencing high or extremely high water stress. The Verde and Salt rivers supplying Intel's Arizona operations recorded record-low water levels. Greenpeace criticized Intel for relying on low-impact procurement methods like renewable energy certificates rather than actual infrastructure investment.