Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Calif. Calls for Lower Emissions

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California state Air Resources Board yesterday proposed a host of environmental rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gases from a variety of sectors including semiconductor makers.

The proposed rules would go into effect in 2010 as part of global warming legislation ratified last year.

The California law, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed, aims to cut greenhouse gases by 25% by 2020.

The plan calls for the semiconductor industry to cut emissions of carbon-dioxide-rich PFCs, or perfluorocarbons. However, a spokeswoman for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group countered that many semiconductor manufacturers have already sharply cut PFC use.

Yesterday’s proposal lacked specifics, but more details would be made available shortly.