GM’s Spring Hill Manufacturing to Run on the Sun
General Motors to purchase 100 MW of solar energy to power 100 percent of Spring Hill’s operations
2020-05-14
- One hundred megawatts equals the amount of energy consumed by nearly 18,000 U.S. households per year.*
- Spring Hill Manufacturing is GM’s largest facility in North America.
- This project is expected to increase GM’s use of renewable energy to more than 50 percent in the U.S. by 2023.
SPRING HILL, Tenn. – General Motors’ Spring Hill Manufacturing plant is expected to be powered by 100 percent solar energy beginning in late 2022.
This green tariff agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority is expected to supply up to 100 megawatts of solar energy per year, or the amount of electricity consumed by 18,000 United States households annually.* The energy will be supplied by a solar farm in Lowndes County, Mississippi, currently under development by Origis Energy.**
The commitment is made possible through the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Green Invest program, which is the federal electric utility’s green tariff solution.
This project is expected to increase GM’s use of renewable energy to more than 50 percent of its sourced electricity by 2023, moving GM closer to its goal of sourcing 100 percent of electricity from renewables in the U.S. by 2030 at GM-owned sites.
“Our commitment to renewable energy is part of our vision of a world with zero emissions,” said Dane Parker, GM chief sustainability officer. “We’re committed to using our scale and relationships to increase renewable energy demand and availability.”
Green tariff solutions are a key component of GM’s renewable energy strategy and allow the company to work with utilities to provide renewable energy solutions near its facilities.
Spring Hill Manufacturing is the largest GM facility in North America, totaling 2,100 acres. Seven hundred of those acres are dedicated to farming, with an additional 100 acres dedicated to wildlife habitat, composing of wetlands and native grasses. The wildlife area has received Gold recognition and certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council. The plant builds the GMC Acadia and the Cadillac XT5 and XT6, as well as several engines.
“We’re excited that GM chose Green Invest because TVA’s ability to meet the renewable energy needs of our customers will drive vital investment and jobs across our seven-state region,” said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO. “Moving forward, large-scale solar installations provide the best value for our customers to help meet their sustainability goals which makes Green Invest a win for everyone.”
GM is ranked 12 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Top 100 List of the largest green power users from their Green Power Partnership program. According to the EPA, GM’s choice to use green power helps advance the voluntary market for renewable energy, as well as the development of those sources. By moving the needle in the voluntary green power market, GM and other Green Power Partners are helping to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions, including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain and regional haze.
*According to the EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator for 225,000,000 KWh.
**Subject to environmental review.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.