General Motors said that it will invest $24 million in equipment that will allow two assembly plants to generate electricity from landfill gas.
The company says that it will be the first North American automaker to generate its own electricity using landfill gas. Construction is expected to be complete by May 2014.
The investments will come at the Fort Wayne, Ind., and Orion, Mich., assembly plants and will generate 14 megawatts of electricity a year, saving General Motors a combined $10 million in energy savings between the two facilities.
GM's Orion Assembly Plant has been using landfill gas since 1999 to power a paint shop. With this new equipment, 54 percent of the facility's energy will come from landfill gas.
The Fort Wayne Assembly Plant was used landfill gas since 2002 and with this investment, will increase its usage to 40 percent.
The investment at both plants will help GM cut CO2 emissions by more than 89,000 metric tons a year, the equivalent of taking 18,542 vehicles off the road.
Orion Assembly employs more than 1800 people and produces the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano. Fort Wayne Assembly employs 3800 people and manufactures the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
