General Motors Corp. committed to buy 200 megawatts of wind-sourced electricity to power manufacturing plants in Indiana and Ohio, including two automotive foundries where the GM Powertrain division casts cylinder blocks and heads, crankshafts, transmission casings, and converter housings for a number of engine programs. All of GM’s Ohio and Indiana manufacturing operations will meet their electricity needs through 100% renewable energy as a result of these new arrangements.
GM completed the purchase agreements with Starwood Energy Group’s Northwest Ohio Wind farm in Paulding County, OH, and Swift Current Energy’s HillTopper Wind Project in Logan County, IL. Once these supply agreements are in effect by the end of this year, the automaker noted, “renewable energy will power 20% of (its) global electricity use.”
The two agreements will provide wind-sourced electricity to GM’s Fort Wayne Assembly, Marion Metal Center, and Bedford Casting plants in Indiana and Lordstown Assembly, Defiance Casting, Parma Metal Center and Toledo Transmission plants in Ohio.
GM will be the only customer of the Ohio project, which is under construction now and targeted for completion in the fall.
The automaker previously committed to use renewable sources for 100% of its energy needs by 2050, and already has adopted solar arrays, landfill gas, in addition to wind power to fuel its offices, plants, and testing centers.
“We’re helping provide solutions to green the grid through these new renewable energy deals and sharing best practices with other companies so they too can reduce risk and energy costs,” stated Rob Threlkeld, GM global manager of renewable energy.