General Motors is a global automotive leader, helping people all over the world get where they need to go– for work, for family or for the simple joy of travel. Now, they’ve set ambitious environmental goals that are leading the way in creating a more sustainable auto industry.
To learn more about GM’s goals and how they’re working to realize them, we spoke with their Renewables and Energy Strategy Manager, Monica Walker.
“GM has a vision of a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion,” Walker told us. All their goals align upward with this greater vision. Including another she went on to share: “We set the goal of powering our operations with 100% renewable energy in the U.S. by 2025 and globally by 2035.”
To reach these aggressive new goals, GM’s leadership knew they’d need the right mix of energy solutions. They contacted their energy provider, Consumers Energy, to learn how they could leverage their relationship with energy to make a positive impact for their business and for the environment. The result was a portfolio of efficiency and decarbonization measures tailored to GM’s unique needs.
Walker highlighted three Consumers Energy programs they’ve joined to help move the needle toward their goals and their greater vision.
First was the Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. “The rebate has allowed us to make investments in more efficient equipment and processes at our facilities,” she said. Beyond earning rebate dollars, GM’s increases in efficiency have also saved enough electricity to power 4,000 homes for an entire year.
Walker continued with the Renewable Energy Program, saying, “We’re really proud to be a founding member of that program; helping come up with renewable energy solutions, close to home.” To date, GM and subsequent members of the Renewable Energy Program have already sponsored the construction of over 350,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, right here in Michigan.
The third program Walker highlighted was the Demand Response Program. Through Demand Response, GM helps make local energy systems more reliable by temporarily reducing their operational energy load during times of peak electricity demand.
To summarize the results GM has achieved since implementing their energy solutions portfolio, Walker commented, “Participation in these programs is fantastic for financial savings, but it’s also a part of preserving these beautiful natural resources to be able to enjoy them for the years to come.”
Before concluding our conversation, we asked Walker if there was any advice she would give other businesses looking to make a difference for their operations and for Michigan. She had this to share: “GM is just one business, so it’s really critical that other businesses join us on this journey to be a part of something bigger.”
To inspire other businesses to explore sustainability programs, Consumers Energy invited Walker to tell GM’s sustainability story as part of the ‘Something Bigger’ video series. Check out the video here for more from Monica Walker and a look around some of GM’s vehicle assembly facilities.
