Energy Efficiency, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  March 8, 2018

GM and Switch partner on MI green tariff

General Motors and Switch are the first companies to participate in a new Consumers Energy program to help large businesses use large RE sources. Both companies are now matching 100 percent of their electric use at key operations in Michigan with wind-generated power.

The energy used at Switch's Pyramid Campus, a 1.8 million-square-foot data center campus in Grand Rapids, and General Motors' Flint Metal Center and Flint Engine Operations is matched entirely with energy produced by Cross Winds® Energy Park II, in Tuscola County, Mich, according to a statement.

"Corporations have a leadership opportunity to help accelerate and scale renewable energy, making it more accessible and affordable for everyone," said Dane Parker, General Motors vice president of sustainable workplaces. "The Consumers Energy program will help General Motors meet its commitment to source 100 percent renewable energy at all global operations by 2050 while reducing emissions in our Michigan communities and making the grid greener."

"Switch and General Motors are leading the way for companies that want to operate efficiently in a competitive environment, yet also make and meet commitments to our planet," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of operations. Businesses that participate in the program help defray the costs for new renewable energy sources. "The collaboration among a tech company and an automaker demonstrates that environmental leadership can be driven from all business sectors," Rochow said.

Today, Consumers Energy provides 10% percent of customers' energy use from renewable sources; a goal to increase to 40% by 2040 has been announced, along with other clean energy goals, including reducing carbon emissions by 80% and no longer using coal to generate electricity by 2040.

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