GM Shines at Photovoltaic Tech Conference

Snow may be covering much of the Northeast right now, but that didn’t stop the sun from shining on GM at the PV America East Expo in Philadelphia.  

Last week, General Motors became the newest member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, joining other renewable energy advocates supporting a strong U.S. solar industry.

“Part of our renewable energy goal as a company involves helping other organizations learn how to successfully implement renewable energy strategies,” said Rob Threlkeld, renewable energy manager for GM.

Last year, SEIA ranked GM as the No. 1 automotive solar user in the United States. It placed No. 13 among other companies, such as IKEA and Walmart, making significant use of solar power.

“SEIA is thrilled that General Motors has made solar deployment such an integral part of their global sustainability practices,” said Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Rhone Resch.

In the United States alone, 2.1 percent of GM’s energy consumption comes from renewable resources, which includes solar power. GM’s solar arrays in the United States generated enough electricity in 2012 to power 800 U.S. homes. That number is expected to double in 2013.