General Motors (GM) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a groundbreaking initiative that slashed natural gas consumption by 30% at its Fort Wayne Assembly Plant. The achievement, measured against a 2019 baseline, is a major step in GM’s broader sustainability push.
DOE’s Better Climate Challenge Director, Maria Vargas, visited the facility to commend GM for its leadership in energy efficiency. The plant repurposes waste heat from gas-powered generators to warm the facility and prevent the emergency sprinkler system from freezing during the winter. This project alone cuts carbon emissions equivalent to the energy required to heat 4,900 homes for a year and saves GM $3.5 million annually in reduced natural gas and electricity costs.
“Whether we’re building electric or internal combustion vehicles, we’re committed to maximizing the sustainability of our manufacturing processes,” said Kathi Walker, GM’s director of global sustainability strategies.
This innovative heat recovery system is also being deployed at GM’s St. Catharines Propulsion Plant in Ontario, which is expected to be operational next year.
The Fort Wayne plant, staffed by 4,300 employees, produced over 292,000 units of the top-selling Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks in 2023 alone. Statewide, GM employs more than 6,200 workers and supports an additional 15,050 jobs through its partnerships and suppliers. Since 2013, the automaker has invested over $2.8 billion in its Indiana operations, where it has maintained a presence for nearly 90 years.
This effort is part of GM’s ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 72% by 2035 and reach carbon neutrality by 2040.
