GM says its US facilities will be powered by renewable sources by 2025

General Motors said Wednesday it has secured all the renewable energy it needs to power all of its U.S. facilities by 2025, 25 years ahead of earlier projections.

The Detroit automaker, which initially targeted 2050 to meet its all-renewable energy goal, said it has secured supply agreements from 16 renewable energy plants in 10 states.

In early 2021, GM moved its target date for all-renewables to 2030, then advanced that goal by five years this week.

The five-year gap will help erase roughly 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equal to the emissions produced by burning 1 billion pounds of coal, GM said.

“We believe it is critical—for ourselves, our customers, and the future of the planet—that we step up our efforts and achieve ambitious goals that move us closer to a more sustainable world,” said Kristen Seamen, Chief Sustainability Officer of the company. “Securing the renewable energy we need to meet our target demonstrates tangible progress in reducing our emissions across all aspects of our business, ultimately bringing us closer to our vision of a zero-emissions future.”

$35 billion investment in carbon neutral vision

In recent years, the Detroit automaker has pledged to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle production with the goal of eliminating tailpipe emissions from its passenger cars in the U.S. by 2035. By 2040, the company plans to become carbon neutral, according to a GM press release.

“General Motors has been a pioneer in the corporate supply of clean energy for manufacturing facilities for more than a decade,” said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association. “Today’s announcement to provide the energy needed to meet their 2025 target is another example of their leadership.”