General Motors announced Tuesday that it had reached an agreement to power three of its Michigan automotive plants with clean energy.
The 20-year agreement with Consumers Energy would use clean energy to power the company’s Flint Assembly Plant, Parts Processing Center in Burton, and GM Components Holdings Plant in Wyoming, supporting roughly 70 megawatts of emission-free renewable energy in Michigan.
“General Motors is committed to combatting climate change and transforming the communities where we work and live by striving toward zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion,” said Rob Threlkeld, senior manager of energy strategy and grid decarbonization at GM. “Procuring renewable energy is key to accomplishing these goals. Our collaboration with Consumers Energy brings us closer to our target of sourcing 100% renewable energy in the U.S. by 2025 and will advance our local Michigan communities’ transition to a clean grid.”
Through new and existing GM plants in Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program, GM will be able to offset 235,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually – the equivalent of taking 51,000 cars off the road, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculations.
Consumers Energy and GM began partnering on clean energy in 2018.
“We’re thrilled to see General Motors pledge to use 100% clean energy that Consumers Energy will provide, highlighting our shared commitment to our state’s prosperity and protecting the planet,” Consumers Energy President and CEO Garrick Rochow said. “GM’s commitment builds on, and actually accelerates, Consumers Energy’s plan to power Michigan with clean energy.”