American multinational corporation General Motors publicized that it will be using renewable energy sources to power up its Arlington assembly plant in Texas. The plant will be getting 30 megawatts from the Hidalgo Wind Farm to produce its vehicles.
General Motors, one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers, announced that its Arlington assembly plant in Texas would soon be utilizing renewable energy sourced through an energy purchase pact with EDP Renewables of North America. To be specific, 30 megawatts from the 250 megawatts produced by the Hidalgo wind farm will be delivering the assembly plant its energy. This allows the plant to build up to 125,000 trucks annually using wind energy.
General Motors Global Manufacturing EVP Jim DeLuca stated that the company's investment is helping speed up the increase of clean energy in the state of Texas and the use of wind power as a renewable and reliable source of power. The company's sustainable manufacturing mindset profits the communities in which GM operates around the world.
GM's Arlington assembly plant will be expecting to use wind energy in the fourth quarter of 2016. By then, the company will begin to save up to $2.8 million in energy expenses per year through a 14-year contract from EDP, while it enables GM to avoid more than one million tons of carbon emissions. This number is equal to 112 million gallons of gasoline consumption.
EDP Renewables Chief Executive Officer for North America, Gabriel Alonso, stated that the company is more than pleased to team up with GM. They are also looking forward to provide economical and clean energy for the carmaker's assembly plant for years to come.
Renewable energy sources is not only the environment-friendly achievement of GM's Arlington assembly plant. It also met the EPA's ENERGY STAR Challenge on reduction of energy intensity by 10 percent for its operations in five years.
Lastly, the company also made investments for a new paint shop that will utilize half the energy consumption of GM's existing painting facility.
