GM Reduces Natural Gas, Ramps Up Sustainable Solar

General Motors (GM’s) commitment to sustainability continues with a landmark solar power provision deal and recognition from the DOE for decarbonisation, energy efficiency and waste reduction. 

Having achieved its goal to secure 100% of the renewable electricity needed to power GMs US sites by 2025, the company's focus continues to do the same globally by 2035. 

Natural gas reduction and solar panel investment have played a critical role in making this possible on US soil, fostering greater community investment and reducing scope 3 emissions. 

A landmark solar power deal 

GM has announced a staggering 15-year renewable energy purchase agreement with NorthStar Clean Energy- the company’s largest yet. 

GM already has sourcing agreements in place from seventeen renewable energy plants across eleven US states, making the company by capacity the largest buyer of renewable power in the automotive industry. 

In this agreement, NorthStar’s Newport Solar Project in Arkansas which has a capacity of 180 Megawatts will provide electricity to three important GM US assembly plants.

These plants include the Wentzville Assembly site in Missouri, the Lansing Delta Township Assembly and the Michigan Lansing Grand River Assembly. 

The electricity will be transferred in the form of Northstar Clean Energy, a unit of CMS Energy with the Newport site generating enough electricity to power 30,000 homes each year. 

The deal marks a critical milestone in GM’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2024. In 2022 the company announced the finalisation of its energy sourcing agreements to power all of its US sites with renewable energy by the end of 2025. 

With this move and its existing agreements with renewable energy partners GM appears well on its way to achieving that goal. 

Rob Threlkeld, GM director of global energy strategy, says: “By expanding our renewable electricity portfolio, we are taking a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and advancing our broader sustainability goals.”

“This facility not only supports our renewable electricity strategy, but also demonstrates our dedication to a sustainable future for all.”

The deal comes after GM’s recognition by the US Department of Energy for its reduction of natural gas at its Fort Wayne, Indiana assembly plant.

This was driven by an innovative project that led to a 30% natural gas reduction against a 2019 baseline.

Reducing natural gas at Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne Assembly is a critical part of GM’s manufacturing network and a generator of vital jobs and opportunities to the Fort Wayne community.  

Opened in 1986, the 600,000 sq ft plant employs 4,363 employees who build more than 1300 trucks each day with the assistance of thousands of industrial robots.

GM has invested approximately US$1.9bn in the plant and donated US$602.5k to nonprofits in the Fort Wayne area since 2019.

GM’s Indiana facilities together employ more than 6,200 people and according to a study by Oxford Economics, GM’s activities in Indiana support an additional 15,050 jobs from partners, suppliers and others. 

Fort Wayne Assembly today produces vehicles on GM’s GMT T1XX vehicle platform.

This is an architecture designed for body-on-frame SUVs and pickup trucks that made its debut with the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra.

As rumours swirl that GM could be developing a full size electric truck, now seems a better time than any to enhance the sustainability of Fort Wayne Assembly. 

The project that has achieved such impressive natural gas reduction involves eliminating steam usage for freeze protection and comfort heating. 

This is then swapped with a natural gas-fired steam system which provides both power and heat.

For the final step, GM utilises heat exchanges to recover waste from pre-existing landfill gas-powered generators.

The heat recovered meets more than 80% of the plant's heating needs, whilst reducing natural gas usage.

In addition to energy savings, the company’s Fort Wayne heat recovery system prevents emergency sprinkler systems from freezing during colder months.

“Together with GM’s energy team, the employees at Fort Wayne Assembly have developed an energy solution that helps promote carbon reduction in the assembly of our best-selling trucks,” said Kathi Walker, GM’s director of global sustainability strategies.

“Whether we’re building electric or internal combustion vehicles, we’re committed to maximising the sustainability of our manufacturing processes.”

GM is now evaluating further sites where natural gas could be reduced in a similar way.

At its St Catharine propulsion Plant in Ontario, expected to be operational next year, the company is working to deploy a comparable heat recovery system. 

GM’s recognition by the DOE for its natural gas reduction at Fort Wayne, comes as part of its involvement in the US governmental scheme ‘Better Climate Challenge’. 

Part of the better climate challenge 

GM is one of over 80 industrial companies participating in DOE’s ‘Better Climate Challenge’, part of the federal agency’s Better Buildings initiative launched in 2011. 

The initiative involves over 900 organisations and seeks to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of facilities and buildings. 

Manufacturers involved include The Kraft Heinz Company, 3M, ABB, Kohl’s, Nestlé, Toyota, Honeywell and many more. 

Participants in the Better Climate Challenge initiative have vowed to cut scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. According to the DOE’s 2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress report, the companies involved have averaged a 21% cut in these emissions from their base year. 

GM is one of five industrial sector partners that has met the 50% GHG emissions reduction goal. As recipients of the Better Project award, GM not only celebrates but seeks to push its sustainability further, aiming to slash GHG emissions from its operations by 72% by 2035.

“At GM, we are taking important steps toward supporting the transition to a more sustainable, zero emissions future for everyone,” said Kristen Siemen, Vice President Sustainable Workplaces & Chief Sustainability Officer In GM’s 2023 ‘Journey To Zero’ sustainability report.

"We continue to make progress on our plan to become carbon neutral in our global products and operations by 2040, but we know we can’t do it alone.

“With innovation and technology at the heart of our strategy, we’ve been able to successfully secure 100% of the renewable electricity needed to power our sites and facilities in the United States by 2025, and we continue to work toward our plan to secure enough renewable electricity to do so globally by 2035.” 

By investing in solar power and reducing natural gas, GM continues to establish itself as a manufacturer that delivers on its long term sustainability promises and goals. 

With a commitment to EV innovation, renewable energy and circular business practices, GM is creating the future of ecologically conscious driving, and building a manufacturing network capable of meeting the rising challenges of scope 3 reduction. 

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