General Motors has announced that it will partner with Detroit-based energy company DTE Energy to utilize additional renewable energy sources in GM’s business operations.
The partnership includes an additional 500,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of solar energy, which follows an investment of 300,000 MWh of renewable energy made in February of 2019. The automaker says the total 800,000 MWh of renewable energy is equivalent to the same amount of electricity consumed by more than 100,000 homes in an average year.
The new investment is part of DTE’s MIGreenPower program, which is available to all DTE Electric customers interested in utilizing energy provided by renewable sources.
The investment will provide enough energy to power all of GM’s DTE-supplied facilities in Southeast Michigan by 2023. These include the Milford Proving Ground, the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, and GM’s global headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, as well as the Detroit-Hamtramck and Orion assembly facilities.
To note, the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly facility will produce all-electric products like Cruise Origin and the GMC Hummer EV following a retooling effort, as well as future battery-powered vehicles. Meanwhile, the Orion Assembly facility produces the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
The new investment will fund two new DTE solar parks currently in development. The new solar parks will be among the largest in Michigan, providing 1,500 new jobs during construction. General Motors’ previous investment was used to build three wind parks, which are expected to go into operation by the end of the year.
“Projects like this can have a substantial impact on reducing emissions and we’re proud to lead the way in clean energy procurement in our home state,” said General Motors’ Chief Sustainability Officer, Dane Parker. “Not only should this agreement reduce emissions in the near term, it’s a glimpse into a world with electric vehicles, built by renewable energy, and in the case of our workplace chargers, charged by a green grid too.”
Earlier this year, General Motors hosted an EV Day event where it unveiled a number of different products, including its new Ultium battery tech, BEV3 and BT1 electric vehicle platforms, and various all-electric vehicles. General Motors hopes to launch 20 new EVs by 2023.
Comments
Solar energy in Michigan is a waste of resources. PR BS
Electricity usage is highest between on hot humid summer days, between 2pm and 6pm. When businesses are open and everyone has the AC on full.
Placing solar panels around Detroit means you could put up more buildings without having to upgrade the electrical grid, and you don’t need to build another power plant.