It may only account for 20% of the automaker's global electricity demand, but GM made a strong push towards sustainable energy this week when it announced that the company's manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Indiana would be powered by wind farms.
The company is buying 200 megawatts of wind energy from local wind farms and, once the turbines become operational by the end of 2018, GM will be building Chevy Cruzes, Silverados, and GMC Sierras with electricity harvested from the wind.
The power is enough to meet the electricity demands of Bedford Casting, Fort Wayne Assembly, and Marion Metal Center plants in Indiana and Defiance Casting Operations, Lordstown Assembly, Parma Metal Center, and Toledo Transmission plants in Ohio.
It will take an entire wind farm in Northwest Ohio to generate half of the power. The other half will come from HillTopper Wind Project in Illinois.
Almost exactly one year ago, GM announced that it plans to source all of the company's global electricity from wind, solar, and landfill gas by 2050. That accounts for approximately 350 manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities.
According to the company, GM saves about $5 million annually as a result of its investment in renewable energy.