Plans are moving forward in Malta to bring California-based Advanced Micro Devices to Luther Forest.

While representatives from AMD have until July 2009 to make a final decision to build the computer chip fabrication plant without losing a $1.2 billion incentive package, including tax breaks and grants from New York State, a verdict could come as early as next January, said Malta Supervisor Paul Sausville.  

On Monday, April 1, the Town of Malta accepted AMD’s revised supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed $3.2 billion plant.  The EIS provided the town board with possible effects the chip plant could have on the environment.

According to the EIS, AMD will reduce potentially harmful discharges into the environment and will hire an outside contractor to perform annual environmental audits to determine possible effects that the plant may have on the surrounding area.

“AMD successfully addressed environmental issues and have set the stage for a public hearing set on May 5,” Sausville said.  He added that the town is currently readying the site for construction by improving nearby roadways and highways, adding county water lines and sewage treatment. 

Gary Silcott, a spokesperson for AMD, said there are a number of factors that caused the company to pick the Malta location.

“New York State put together an attractive incentive package, and there is synergy here with existing IBM plants and Albany NanoTech complex,” he said.  “There is already a good base of research and know-how in the area.”

Should the company decide to build the plant in Malta, an approximated 1,500 jobs will open to area engineers and scientists and another 4,500 jobs for construction and support workers, Sausville said. The capital district currently doesn’t have a strong market for scientists and engineers, whereas there are plenty of technical schools in the area, he added.

“We are expecting that area residents will have 80 to 90 percent of the jobs.  There are many families with young people studying at Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who will have some great hometown opportunities.  Living and working in Malta has some great qualities to consider,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for young technical workers.”  

AMD is the second largest computer chip fabricator in the world behind Intel Corporation.  The Malta site could be the second chip fabrication site and third manufacturing plant.  Dresden, Germany currently hosts two fabrication plants.  Should plans forward, it could take 12 to 18 months to break ground, Silcott said.   

“Should AMD decide to come here, they’ll get the best we have to offer,” Sausville said.