GM, DTE Energy Sign Agreement for 300GwH of Wind Power
To date, 20 percent of GM’s global energy supply comes from renewable sources. The car manufacturer is a member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance.
General Motors Co. has partnered with DTE Energy for 300-gigawatt hours of wind energy in the state of Michigan. Once complete, the energy sourced will be sufficient to power 100 percent of the electricity needs of GM’s global technical center in Warren and its Detroit-based operations at the Renaissance Center.
GM will source the wind power through an agreement with DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower, a renewable energy program that enables DTE customers to attribute up to 100 percent of their energy use to DTE clean energy projects in Michigan. The 300-gigawatt hours provide enough electricity to power nearly 30,000 U.S. households. So far, GM owns or invested in 1.7-terrawatt hours of clean energy in the U.S., which is the equivalent to powering more than 145,000 households.
Increasing demand
In January 2019, DTE received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to offer a MIGreenPower program designed for major corporations and industrial companies in the state that want access to more renewable energy to meet corporate sustainability goals. DTE intends to build or acquire additional clean energy projects and expand MIGreenPower to meet customer demand and will begin sourcing to GM once the new projects are online. Furthermore, DTE will more than double its renewable energy generation capacity, investing an additional $2 billion in wind and solar installations by 2024. By 2050, DTE plans to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 80 percent.
Currently, 20 percent of GM’s global energy supply comes from renewable sources. The car manufacturer is a member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) as well as one of the early signatories of RE100, a collaborative global initiative bringing together influential businesses committed to 100 percent renewable energy.
“Investing in renewable energy remains an important part of GM’s vision for a zero emissions future,” Rob Threlkeld, global manager of sustainable energy and supply reliability for General Motors, said in a prepared statement. “Our partnership with DTE Energy will help us get closer to achieving our goal of powering all our operations in Michigan with 100 percent clean energy.”
Our 100 percent renewable energy commitment, along with our pursuit of electrified vehicles and responsible manufacturing, is part of GM’s approach to strengthening its business, improving communities and addressing climate change,” added Threlkeld.
Images courtesy of GM
