The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized the General Motors (GM) assembly plant in Lake Orion, Michigan, for its onsite renewable energy. The plant, which builds the Chevrolet Bolt EV, ranks as the eighth largest user of green power generated onsite among the EPA's Green Power Partnership Partners.
Orion Assembly saves $1 million a year by using renewable energy. Over half of the plant is powered by methane captured from decomposing trash in a nearby landfill. The plant is also home to a 350-kilowatt solar array that sends energy back to the grid.
GM's painting process helps contribute to a reduced environmental footprint at the facility. The "three-wet" process allows three layers of paint to be applied to a car followed by a single trip through the oven, saving energy and space previously used by additional equipment.
The facility also met the EPA's Energy Star Challenge for Industry in 2013 by reducing the energy intensity of its operations by 67 percent within two years. These efforts avoided 42,758 tons of carbon-dioxide emissions.
"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.
GM is one of 60 multinational companies in the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, which works to identify barriers to buying clean energy and develop solutions to meet growing demand.
GM's assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, also appears on the EPA list for the second year in a row for its onsite generation of energy from landfill gas.
For more information, visit www.gm.com.
