General Motors Co. is contracting with NorthStar Clean Energy for supply from two new solar plants that are expected to generate enough electricity to power three of the automaker's Michigan facilities, the company said Thursday, Nov. 12.

The solar plants, which became operational in the last several months, represent GM's largest ever "clean-energy project," Chief Sustainability Officer Cassandra Garber said in a statement.

The $550 million project includes a utility-scale solar plant in Branch County and the Lake Iris solar project in St. Clair County, according to GM. The automaker helped to pay for the plants' development, but a spokesperson declined to provide details on how much GM contributed.

NorthStar Clean Energy, an offshoot from the company behind Michigan utility Consumers Energy, is the developer.

GM will be the primary customer, earmarking 92% of the 300-megawatt combined capacity of the sites, Garber said. She said the projects are expected to create enough energy to power Factory ZERO, Flint Assembly and Lansing Delta Township Assembly.

"GM plans to apply the renewable energy credits generated by these projects toward the emissions associated with electricity purchased for our manufacturing operations," Garber said.

In August 2024, the automaker announced a 15-year renewable energy purchase from NorthStar Clean Energy to supply three U.S. assembly plants.

The purchase from NorthStar’s Newport solar panel project in Newport, Arkansas, was planned to provide electricity to the automaker's Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly plants in Michigan, and the Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri.

GM for years has pledged to power all of its U.S. sites with renewable energy.

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