Infrastructure Briefing — February 13, 2025
Texas Instruments closed its CHIPS Act funding agreement, unlocking federal disbursements once Sherman’s 300-mm mega-fab completes power and water redundancy certification this summer.
Executive briefing: Commerce finalised a CHIPS Act award with Texas Instruments, delivering up to $5.4 billion in direct funding and loans for the 300-mm analog mega-fab complex under construction in Sherman, Texas. The definitive agreement codifies site infrastructure checkpoints—dual on-site substations, reclaimed water systems, and storm-hardened logistics corridors—that must pass verification before grant tranches begin flowing in Q3 2025.
Key infrastructure signals
- Dual-substation buildout. Texas Instruments will commission two ERCOT-interconnected substations by June, with smart-switching that keeps wafer tools powered during grid contingencies.
- Water reuse mandate. The agreement mandates 90% reclaimed water usage, aligning city-funded infrastructure upgrades with TI’s zero-liquid-discharge goals for 2025.
- Supply chain resiliency. Sherman’s logistics plan includes a hardened cold-storage corridor and redundant chemical delivery nodes, giving Commerce visibility into HAZMAT response readiness.
Control alignment
- CHIPS environmental reporting. Document greenhouse-gas and water-intensity metrics quarterly for the Commerce environmental appendix.
- Texas Enterprise Fund covenants. Synchronise job creation attestations with CHIPS workforce reporting to avoid audit conflicts.
- ISO 22301 business continuity. Map TI’s fab continuity controls to the site’s dual-substation and water reuse milestones.
Detection and response priorities
- Embed real-time monitoring on the substations’ protective relays and backup generators to capture trending anomalies before certification audits.
- Track construction contractor safety metrics alongside CHIPS-funded on-site health clinics to prove the resiliency posture Commerce expects.
Enablement moves
- Brief suppliers on the logistics corridor changes so material delivery SLAs account for hardened routing.
- Develop a shared dashboard with Sherman municipal partners documenting water reuse testing, public reporting, and CHIPS reimbursement timing.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Commerce: Commerce and Texas Instruments finalize CHIPS funding agreement (February 13, 2025)
- Texas Instruments newsroom: Sherman expansion update and CHIPS milestones (February 13, 2025)
Zeph Tech operationalises CHIPS-funded fab ramp plans with integrated utility telemetry, continuity controls, and supplier readiness programmes.