15-Year Partnership to Power Key Assembly Plants in Michigan and Missouri
General Motors (GM) has entered into a significant 15-year renewable power purchase agreement with NorthStar Clean Energy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability across three of its U.S. assembly plants. This new deal will ensure that GM’s operations at the Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly plants in Michigan, as well as the Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri, are powered by renewable electricity sourced from NorthStar’s 180-megawatt solar project in Newport, Arkansas.
Supporting Sustainability Goals with Renewable Power
The Newport Solar site, expected to generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes annually, will play a crucial role in GM’s broader sustainability strategy. This agreement represents GM’s largest renewable power purchase agreement to date and is a key component of the automaker’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its products and operations by 2040. GM’s 2023 sustainability report highlighted that the company has secured the agreements necessary to procure 100% renewable electricity for all its U.S. sites by the end of 2025, supporting its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions reduction targets.
Advancing Toward a Carbon-Neutral Future
GM’s director of global energy strategy, Rob Threlkeld, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “By expanding our renewable electricity portfolio, we are taking a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and advancing our broader sustainability goals. This facility not only supports our renewable electricity strategy, but also demonstrates our dedication to a sustainable future for all.” With 17 renewable energy plants operating across 11 states, GM continues to lead the automotive industry in renewable power procurement by capacity, despite recent controversies surrounding ethical supply chain practices.
