GM Baltimore Operations Complex with 1.23 MW Solar Array to Manufacture “Green Motors of the Future”

One of the most powerful sustainability accomplishments that a business can achieve includes combining a method for its consumers to be more environmentally responsible while pursuing its own ongoing sustainability efforts at the same time. General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, is a leading example.

Yesterday, General Motors (GM) held the official groundbreaking event for its electric motor plant in White Marsh, Maryland, where electric motors for plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles will be developed. Earlier this week, the 1.23 MW solar array installed on the roof of the General Motors’ 2-Mode Hybrid and heavy duty transmission building was also turned on and expected to generate 9 percent of the plant’s annual energy consumption.

The solar system at GM’s Baltimore Operations Complex was built by Constellation Energy and will be owned and maintained by us as well – GM is purchasing all of the electricity generated by the solar panels under a 20-year power-purchase agreement. For each year of solar energy production, GM will offset up to 1,103 metric tons of carbon dioxide or the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from 4,056 passenger vehicles. This is the second solar project that we have developed for GM; our first was a 951 kW system that powers a parts distribution warehouse in Fontana, California.

It was truly an honor to provide remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony, among dignitaries including 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.

For large scale manufacturers like GM, solar is an attractive option. By structuring projects as power purchase agreements with Constellation, companies like GM, do not have to put forth upfront capital and provide the opportunity to benefit from price protection from rate volatility with fixed power costs, projected to be less than market rates.