GM Expands Landfill-Gas Use To Power Car Assembly Plants

Car production isn't the greenest of processes, but in recent decades many automakers have at least made attempts to reduce environmental impact--and General Motors is the latest to take a step towards improving it.

The automaker has announced a $24 million investment in the use of landfill gas at its Fort Wayne, Indiana and Orion, Michigan assembly plants.

GM says the new equipment has the capacity to generate more than 14 megawatts of electricity from landfill gas--saving over 89,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. For some idea of the emissions savings, that equates to over 18,500 passenger vehicles per year.

Landfill gas is a mix of different gases produced from the chemical reactions and effects of microbes on waste products. Between 40-60 percent of the gas is methane, while much of the remainder is made up of carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases.By separating natural gas from the other gases, this can then be used in facilities like GM's assembly plants.

Not only does this reduce the output of waste gases into the atmosphere, but also reduces the need for gas from fossil fuels. It's also cheaper for big companies like General Motors--which expects to save a combined $10 million in energy costs each year at its facilities.

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