 |
Constellation Energy installed these solar panels on the roof of the General Motors' 2-Mode Hybrid and heavy duty transmission building at GM's Baltimore Operations complex. The solar array will provide 9 percent of the energy to run the plant. Under a 20-year agreement, GM is purchasing all the energy created by the solar panels.
Courtesy of GM |
|
White Marsh, Md., USA - May 17, 2011
The General Motors electric motor plant near Baltimore will be
the first by a major U.S. automaker dedicated to making the critical components for vehicle electrification when the plant opens in 2013.
With
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on hand, GM broke ground Tuesday for the previously announced addition to the
complex housing its two-mode hybrid and Heavy Duty transmission operations.
The electric motor plant results from two investments totaling $269.5 million announced last year.
Electric motor design and production is a core business for GM in the development and manufacture of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.
 |
Constellation Energy installed these solar panels on the roof of the General Motors' 2-Mode Hybrid and heavy duty transmission building at GM's Baltimore Operations complex. The solar array will provide 9 percent of the energy to run the plant. Under a 20-year agreement, GM is purchasing all the energy created by the solar panels.
Courtesy of GM |
|
“We believe the future of sustainable transportation is electrically driven vehicles and this facility will help us maintain a leadership position within this category,” said
Mike Robinson, GM vice president, Energy, Environment and Safety Policy.
“It’s fitting that green ‘motors of the future’ are being built at a facility well recognized for ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact.”
The campus will be powered in part by a 1.23 megawatt rooftop solar array, expected to generate nine percent of its annual energy consumption and save approximately $330,000 during the life of the project.
“By harnessing solar energy from this array, GM will offset up to 1,103 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the air per year – equivalent to the emissions from 216 passenger vehicles,” said
Robinson.
 |
Ready to pick up our shovels for the groundbreaking. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and behind him, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu.
Courtesy of Constellation Energy |
|
Constellation Energy will build, own and maintain the solar power system, and
GM will purchase all of the electricity generated by the solar panels under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Constellation Energy’s first solar array for GM was a 951-kilowatt system at its Fontana, Calif., Service and Parts Operations warehouse.
“Solar as a power-generation source is an attractive option for GM and other large-scale manufacturers to achieve environmental goals and control electricity costs,” said
Michael D. Smith, senior vice president of green initiatives for Constellation Energy’s retail business.
 |
U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu, NHSTA Administrator David Strickland, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, Mike Robinson, GM’s Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety, and others. Leaders were genuinely excited about the facility and even more thrilled that the electric and hybrid vehicles will be built at a facility powered by renewable energy, making GM’s sustainability initiative that much more distinct.
Courtesy of Constellation Energy |
|
GM uses renewable energy from solar, hydro, and landfill gas resources at various plants.
In the
United States alone,
1.4 percent of its energy consumption comes from
renewable resources.
GM’s Baltimore Operations has the dual distinction of being powered by renewable energy and generating no landfill waste.
It earned zero-landfill status in 2007 by recycling, reusing or converting to energy all wastes from daily operations.
Last year, the
Baltimore Operations complex won a
Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award for showing commitment to sustainable practices with measureable results.
“Our state is one of discovery and innovation, where traditional manufacturers like GM embrace the new technologies that move our companies, our commerce and our citizens forward,”
Gov. O’Malley said.
Separately, the
GM Foundation and
Baltimore Operations announced they will
donate $20,000 to the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Maryland Food Bank and the
Wildlife Habitat Council.
The donations are part of the
Foundation’s Plant City Grants which will award a total of
$1 million nationally to local communities with
GM facilities.
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the
world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908.
With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than
120 countries.
GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:
Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and
Wuling.
GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the
United States,
Brazil, the
United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and
Italy.
GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.
More information on the
new General Motors can be found at
www.gm.com
About Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG)
is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States.
It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately
12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for
clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy.
The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.
A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010.
For more information please visit
www.constellation.com
Constellation Energy Contact:
Kelly Biemer
410-470-7433kk
kelly.biemer@constellation.com
Source: General Motors
http://media.gm.com/
ASTROMAN magazine