GM heralded for finding power down in the dumps
Did you
know that the horrid stench emanating from your local landfill can be used as an energy source? We didn’t, but it
turns out GM did. GM is the largest user of landfill gas in the country, with seven facilities getting extra wattage
from the aromatic excretions of their neighborhood dumps. Landfill gas comes from the decomposition of organic waste,
and by combusting it in onsite boilers the General has reduced its use of natural gas by 21 percent since 2000. At the company’s Ft. Wayne Truck Assembly Plant the power provided by landfill gas that’s pumped through an 8-mile long pipeline from the town’s landfill accounts for 16-percent of the plant’s energy needs. Green Car Congress tells us that saves GM $500,000 annually and delivers a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that’s equivalent to planting 6,000 acres of forest or making 4,200 vehicles disappear.
For its efforts GM and some of these plants will be featured on both a public access and cable TV show this Spring, as well as an international radio show.
[Source: Green Car Congress]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave J 1:12PM (4/04/2006)
That's clever, GM! They are concerned but not obsessed with the environment...
Just wanted to get my comments in before everyone starts GM bashing!
Reply
Richard Warren 1:33PM (4/04/2006)
Good for GM and anyone else who uses this method
Reply
Sean 1:40PM (4/04/2006)
Good for GM
Let the Toyotablog start in........
Reply
Aki 1:43PM (4/04/2006)
Kinda gets cancelled out with their giant SUVs, but that's still impressive nonetheless.
Reply
Patricia Arteaga 1:54PM (4/04/2006)
I want to add my praises to GM. I am also tired of those GM bashers. They should be ashamed of themselves. They seem to want the end of GM even though the company supports 1 million people. Why do they want their fellow Americans to suffer?
I have owned 3 Blazers, and I love them. My hubby's Chevy Blazer has run 250K without a glitch.
Reply
Leo 1:58PM (4/04/2006)
Several manufacturers are doing this also, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. Kudos to GM's PR team for getting mileage out of it first!
Reply
Gunnar Heinrich 2:28PM (4/04/2006)
Nice move General Motors! Keep it up!
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/03/best-of-general-motors-lineup.html
Reply
emulous1974 2:43PM (4/04/2006)
My roommate works at an energy plant in Hartford, CT that converts trash to energy. It's nice to see companies using their own waste.
Reply
JcB 2:55PM (4/04/2006)
#4- "Kinda gets cancelled out with their giant SUVs, but that's still impressive nonetheless."
What exactly does Toyota's planned expansion of Tundra sales from 127,000 in 2005 to 200,000+ in 2007, and 300,000+ by the end of the decade negate?
Answer: Nothing! They're Toyota, you silly!
Reply
Dave J 3:04PM (4/04/2006)
"Aki"
> Kinda gets cancelled out with their giant SUVs, but that's still impressive nonetheless.
Just about every other auto manufacturer makes these "giant SUVs" that can haul equipment for small businesses, take your entire family in one vehicle and tow just about anything.
In addition, GM's SUVs get the best gas mileage of any full size SUVs out there... Not to mention the sweet GM small block that shares much of it's engine technology with the Corvette 400 hp LS2, LS6 and 505 hp LS7!
GM should get credit where credit is due, they do have their problems (entitlement unions and spine-less board that keep promising their employees things they can't possibly deliver). But their 2006 lineup product lineup is pretty impressive when you look at all the products in the across all GM divisions.
Reply
J 3:26PM (4/04/2006)
Thank God for the insightful and well-informed people who comment on this blog. Without them I would think that SUVs like the Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, Jeep Commander, Ford Excursion, etc are "Giant SUVs" - but then I read comments on here and realize that ONLY GM makes "Giant SUVs." F'ing GM! Way to ruin the environment!
Reply
Marc Ricks 4:07PM (4/04/2006)
That just goes to show you...no matter what major corporations do to do their part for the environment, some people will just never be happy.
Also, the same ones that are the first to complain about job outsourcing are the same ones that are rooting for the demise of GM. Aki, that one was for you.
Brad Stine: "The only way to be a true humanitarian is to eliminate yourself."
Reply
Marc Ricks 4:10PM (4/04/2006)
By the way, I'm not for job outsourcing but I'm not hoping to see GM collapse either.
Reply
murphy 4:56PM (4/04/2006)
BMW's South Carolina plant is also part of the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP). Over 25% of their energy usage comes from methane.
http://www.bmwusfactory.com/
http://www.epa.gov/lmop/
Reply
Eric 7:18PM (4/04/2006)
One man's trash is another's way of relieving debt and saving the environment.
Way to go GM!
Reply