Comment by flakeoil
Is it that ecologically damaging? Maybe in the old times when silicon wafers where produced in Silicon Valley and when no-one thought or cared much about the environment. But today, I would assume the damaging effects of semiconductor manufacturing are less profound. But I do not know. Any inputs are welcome.
> But today, I would assume the damaging effects of semiconductor manufacturing are less profound
Manufacturing chips of just TSMC accounts for 5% (!) of Taiwan's entire electricity consumption, Intel's Arizona fab produces thousands of tons of hazardous waste a year [1]. It's far from the old days, but still a massive impact.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/18/semicond...