For General Motors’ Orion assembly, it’s pretty easy being green. The manufacturing facility has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the eighth largest user of renewable energy.
According to GM, the plant saves $1 billion a year by using renewable energy sources to power the facility. For example, over half the plant is powered by methane gases captured at a nearby landfill, and a 350-kilowatt solar array sends energy back to the grid.
“EPA applauds Orion Assembly for its innovation in generating green power from an onsite landfill gas energy system and for taking a leadership position on the environment,” said James Critchfield, manager of the Green Power Partnership.
The honor is particularly important as the facility gears up to be the home of Chevrolet’s most ambitious cars in a long time: the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.
“Building the Bolt EV in a facility that is 54 percent powered by clean energy further adds to the car’s environmental credentials,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, GM vice president of global manufacturing. “It’s an example of how we live our global sustainable manufacturing commitment while improving our bottom line.”
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