Wolfspeed secures air quality permit for $5B Chatham County chip plant

RALEIGH – Wolfspeed has cleared another hurdle in construction of a massive semiconductor factory in Chatham County, having secured an air quality permit from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality.

“Air dispersion modeling reviewed by DAQ shows the facility’s emissions will comply with applicable standards,” the agency said in the announcement.

The issuing of the permit was announced on Thursday. (Copies of the final permit, permit review and environmental justice report are available online.)

“The permit allows Wolfspeed to construct and operate a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Chatham County. The facility will be considered a major source under Title V of the Clean Air Act with potential emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) of 113 tons per year,” the agency said in a statement.

“The permit requires the facility to use a gas scrubber system to control emissions of volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants and toxic air pollutants. A gas abatement system and particulate matter collection devices will control emissions of additional pollutants.”