Shortly after their recent stock sale, General Motors announced it would be spending $40 million on clean energy investments across America.
The company said its goal in doing so was to reduce carbon emissions by eight million metric tons over the next few years. The eight million ton value is the same amount of carbon dioxide produced by electricity use in nearly 1 million US homes, and is the same amount 1.7 million acres of pine forests can absorb.
More saliently, it is also the same amount of carbon dioxide the 1.9 million Chevrolets expected to be sold in 2011 will produce.
As such, the funding for this initiative will come specifically from the Chevrolet brand and will be spent over the next 3 to 5 years on various projects that “promote energy savings, renewable energy, responsible use of natural resources and conservation in communities across the United States.”
Funds will be awarded through third-party non-profit organizations such as the Bonneville Environmental Foundation based in Portland, Oregon.
Projects to be considered for funding may include the following:
* Providing energy efficient technology such as smart energy sensors and solar panels to schools and other community-based facilities in need of upgrades to decrease carbon dioxide emissions and reduce heating bills.
* Supporting wind farms and solar projects that deliver renewable energy to the grid and also help family farms increase their revenues per acre.
* Capturing flammable methane from community landfills that delivers clean energy to the grid and improves local air quality and safety.
* Contributing to forestry projects throughout America.
“GM has made great progress in reducing our environmental impact, but we know we can do more,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson. “Chevrolet’s investment is an extension of the environmental initiatives we’ve been undertaking for years because the solution to global environmental challenges goes beyond just vehicles.
“This is an opportunity to connect with Chevy customers through clean energy projects that directly impact them,” he added.
A website has been set up to help explain the program: http://www.chevycarbonreduction.com/
Chevrolet has also produced a Tim Allen-narrated TV commercial called Spaceship Earth promoting the program and starring guess which car?
+6
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:07 am)Sounds like the start of a carbon cap and trade program.
-15
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:14 am)(click to show comment)
+25
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:18 am)Its great to see GM on a roll. Maybe they can become the worlds number one corporation as they once were and be a leader in the drive to reduce oil dependency and enegy sustainability.
-2
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:21 am)Once again, GM marketing shows us how clueless they are.
On this very site, Lyle conducted a poll, and the vast majority said Energy Security and Peak Oil were their top priorities. The eco and tech categories were together were less than 20%.
http://gm-volt.com/2010/01/29/lutz-driven-by-peak-oil-not-global-warming-how-about-you/
Energy Security 50% (550 votes)
Global Warming 11% (124 votes)
Peak Oil 24% (263 votes)
Latest Technology 8% (88 votes)
Other 6% (67 votes)
+16
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:27 am)I am one that fully agrees that the government needed to bailout GM, and strongly support clean energy project, but until they fully pay back the government they should not be investing in outside projects like this. This is really bad timing. Would guess that GM management is thinking this can improve their image. To improve their image they should focus on generation 2 of the Volt, more EREV based vehicles, and fully paying back the government. Even with the stock IPO the government still owns 30% or so and that needs to be fully paid back.
+26
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:28 am)This could be a very polarized thread. Let’s just stay civil, OK?
I’m a thousand percent pro clean air and water. To the extent that GM can help that *with their vehicles and the vehicles’ production/recycling, excellent! Trying to squeeze on a green halo though seems ill-conceived (if not ill-spent) JMO. I just gave myself a -1, just to get the ball rolling (g)
Be well,
Tagamet
/FYI, elsewhere this investment is being described as “GM buying $60 million of carbon credits”
+12
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:33 am)Best way to do that is put more Voltec cars with an AER on the lots.
Maybe they should collect carbon credits for just doing that alone.
+14
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:35 am)I agree fully, Tag! And it might help to remind ourselves this blog has contributors/readers all over the world and that concern about the environment is much less controversial in most other countries than here in the US. So as Tag says, let’s just stay civil, OK? “Please & thank you!”
+11
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:46 am)My suggestion would be a large solar array used to offset the volt it’s initial charge before leaving the factory .
Talk about great public relations. and a win/ win it will also save money and be as green as anyone.
Then go on to install the same on all the chevy stores and offer FREE charging to all !!!!!!!!!
Tom McMillan
+13
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:46 am)It is more a matter of staying with your core competency. If you want to appear, or even be “ECO-FRIENDLY”, why not invest that money in your own factories and offices. Giving to third party groups dilute the effectiveness. At best, each group has overhead that eats away at the money directly going to help. At worst, you can have fake groups that outright take the money and run. And in a number of cases money will be spent on projects that will not be followed through on with manitenance, etc.
If a company is bent on spending money this way, the need to look at solar, geothermal, etc. for their factories. JMO
+4
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:49 am)We (blog, etc) tend to look at very small actions as if they are in a vacuum but you can be this is a multi-prong (1000s) approach to making them successful again. Certainly they have multiple overlapping (timetable-wise) approaches to their long term automobile designs and build directions dovetailed with “PR”/image/geniune_enviro efforts.
Think many activities going on in parallel here.
Also this one commercial is almost as much a Volt commercial as it is environmentally conscience company commercial.
My hats off to them actually (from a guy who was driving a Volt yesterday – Chicagoland test drive)
+10
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:57 am)I don’t see any issue with GM investing directly in these technologies. They already are invested in cellulose-sourced ethanol production.
In order to exit from oil-based automobiles, GM needs to understand green technologies. Even the act of building a car is very oil intensive as well as causing 4,000 pounds of trash at the end-of-life. They need to worry about their impact throughout the entire process from birth to grave.
It all works together and as long as GM is not just paying lip service (ie greenwashing) I’m all for it.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:59 am)Also check out this parallel work. http://www.goelectricdrive.com
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?5665-GM-Joins-in-Launch-of-New-Consumer-Website-for-Electric-Vehicles
Related to this news article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20101118/bs_prweb/prweb4804324
EDTA Launches New Consumer Website for New Era of Electric Drive Vehicles
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:59 am)I wish this had been invested more directly in projects that could help further weaken the “long tailpipe” objection to EVs. As the grid gets cleaner so do EVs. What other car gets progressively lower emissions as it gets older? It would be great advertising for the Volt for GM to invest in things that make it cleaner. Using the term “reducing carbon” is too polarizing- just say cleaner emissions.
In other news: Still haven’t seen Chelsea Sexton driving around in her Volt even though I live and work right near it. Each time Volts have come to LA (besides the auto show last year) I’ve had to miss it
. Will the LA area have another Volt CAB meetup?
-9
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:12 am)I agree that this initiative is ill-conceived. How do they think the former G.M. stockholders who lost all their investment feel- their lost money going for this? Give the 400 million back to them , use it to pay back the federal government, or better yet use it to build better cars.
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:17 am)I have to agree with Tag.
The only thing I will say is GM should just build the best vehicles they can. Forget the fluff.
+5
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:48 am)They are:
“GM says that it has reduced its manufacturing emissions by 60 percent since 1990, and that a separate effort has seen water use during production drop by 35 percent between 2005 and 2009 worldwide. Additionally, The General operates 75 landfill-free facilities worldwide with a total of 90 percent of the company’s waste being recycled.”
Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/18/general-motors-to-invest-40-million-to-offset-2011-carbon-footp/
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:49 am)Sorry, but my left-handed sense of humor pulled up a visual of you sitting in a lawn chair on the sidewalk outside Chelsea’s house – replete with straw hat, zinc covered nose, and bird-watching binoculars strung about your neck (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:50 am)I think this will sell more Chevrolets and anything that helps energy conservation and supports renewable energy production is good. I like to support companies that support goals I value and if I’m going to buy a product anyway, everything being equal, I would feel good knowing part of my purchase will generate clean power or sequester methane from a landfill for years to come.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:53 am)I think the are trying to don the “green” mantra that toyota may have lost but acquired with the prius. How about some projects to put solar panels on garage roofs to make peoples volts truly green.
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:24 am)The only project that makes any sense in the current global economic situation is the methane collection from landfills.
This is essentially free energy and a great sustainable technology that can be used today and forever. We will always be making stinking waste that can power some of our needs.
Dear GM, this is just sounding like a happy green gesture, and I’m all for sustainability!
Please carefully use your limited capital for renewable investments that are likely to be needed in the near to mid-term.
The reason why solar companies are not doing well right now is due to the fact that we don’t need more electricity generation. After the July 2008 crash we now have a lot of extra capacity.
We have more than enough coal and NG to cover our electricity demand needs.
What is really needed is renewable or alternative energy resources for transportation (your main focus!)
The biggest and most dangerous crisis looming is Peak Oil or Plateau oil. Here we have a real problem because even if we have the need we can’t fill it with anything on our options sheet.
We can always forgo carbon emissions by burning everything in sight but for transportation we can only burn fossil fuels. Ninty seven percent of the world’s transportation is powered by petroleum! There is nothing at that scale and cost that can replace it. Nothing!
So, don’t waste time on solar and wind (even though humanity should work hard on it for future needs). We need better batteries and alternative transportation systems that don’t use petroleum.
Everyone should be knowledgeable of the fact that all energy resources are not created equal.
+23
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:25 am)OT, but I took about 3 seconds out of my life yesterday to prepare my garage for a Volt. Such an easy installation!
join thE REVolution
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:32 am)I’m in favor… Nothing wrong with producing less CO2.. Like someone on here once said, if you don’t think emissions from cars or power plants are bad for you lock your kid in the car in a closed garage for an hour. Every big manufacturing company in the world should have to be cleaner.
And I’m a “registered” republican!
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:35 am)Worthy goal. +1
I think GM’s approach could well achieve that very goal. The quality is there but they need to win over new customers.
Buying back a handful of shares would not be very effective in reducing the treasury’s stake in GM and I don’t think it would placate those who dislike the government ownership. Winning over potentially thousands of new customers and building an image as a responsible car company might sell a lot of cars and grow the GM stock price at the same time. This would eventually eliminate government ownership when the stock price reaches the right level.
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:37 am)I couldn’t screen the pic, but it sounds like we’d be looking at a 120v receptacle. Here’s mine:
CONGRATS!
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:39 am)ClarksonCote,
OOPS! For some reason, your pic NOW comes up fine!
Sorry!
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:41 am)Your pic is much easier to read than mine though! Guess I need to upgrade that old 2 megapixel camera at some point, LOL.
I thought it was pretty clever and amusing for GM to be giving those out at the test drive events.
join thE REVolution
-15
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:42 am)(click to show comment)
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:55 am)Not very long ago, 2 megapixels was “State of the Art”! Let’s hope that batteries show the same growth curve!
And yes, I think the receptacle covers are VERY cool (and functional too)!
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:55 am)Diversifying our electrical grid through additional renewable generation does help energy security too, in addition to global warming and peak oil concerns. Consequently, it seems to me that this investment addresses concerns of at least 85% of the people that took Lyle’s poll.
join thE REVolution
+7
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:57 am)For a company known for the Tahoe and Suburban this is a good idea, and the commercial itself is well executed. It’s also not a lot of money given the scale of auto production.
On the global warming front, 60% of Americans believe there is solid evidence of increasing global temperatures but only only 35% believe the warming to be attributable to human activities. This is interesting because from a scientific standpoint the mechanism of how CO2 emissions increase global temperatures is well understood but the actual effect is not so obvious — sort of the reverse of public opinion.
But I have no idea why global warming became such a political football game between the deniers and the doomsayers any more than I understand why George Will and Rush Limbaugh have picked out the Volt as a political target. What’s not to like about ground breaking technology put out by a US company which can help destroy oil as a strategic resource and deal a body blow to countries like Iran, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia? Can’t they see the obvious advantages? Are these people so consumed with making political points that they can no longer fathom the national interest?
And what political point are they trying to make? Surely the tax credit can’t be that big of a deal. They don’t seem exorcised about other tax credits, every vehicle bought during 2009 was eligible for a tax credit, and hybrids have been eligible for credits for ten years. Why the Volt? Why not the Cruze or the Buick Regal or even the Leaf? Yeah, the Leaf, it’s more of a “Leftie/Greenie” car, it looks funny, it comes from a foreign manufacturer, and it is being financed by tax credits from the state of Tennessee and a $1.5B grant from the DOE — which if you do the math is more money than will ever be paid out as tax credits for the Volt. I just don’t get it.
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:00 pm)Yeah, it’s sad that now the latest smart phones have 8 megapixel cameras (well, sad for me and my 2 megapixel brick anyway).
I am also rooting for comparable strides in battery tech in a similar time frame. That would really be something!
join thE REVolution
+5
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:07 pm)I would rather see the funds put towards driving down the cost of that $16,000 battery.
That way, we all could afford to buy a Volt.
+8
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:17 pm)Sorry a bit OT, but I just returned from a test drive of the Volt in downtown Chicago.
My impression is … WOW. What a great vehicle. I really had the best of both worlds.
The Volt I drove had not been charged over night and had 3 miles of battery remaining.
So while driving I had the experience of the change over to the extended range.
While in battery operation it was extremely quiet. Almost surreal. Driving on
Chicago city streets did not allow any hard acceleration but it felt basically the same as an
ICE at slow speeds. The ICE started shortly after reaching the zero mark for the battery.
I noticed a slight vibration in the steering wheel and could just hear the engine. It is an
interesting experience to have the engine shut off while stopped. When it restarts there was
no real indication that it had other than the slight vibration in the steering wheel. Had the
radio off, so if the radio had been on I’m sure I would not have heard the engine.
Very solid feeling. Seating seemed comfortable. Interior appointments nicely done.
These were salable units, red, white, and … not blue but black. Black really is an elegant
color for the Volt. They still say that we in the mid-West won’t see any here for 12-18 months into the future.
I did complain about that though…
+5
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:24 pm)And that’s what happens when you have an uneducated public, they assume nothing is being done on GM’s part to reduce their footprint. That’s why they invest on advertising, to educate and get the monkey off their back. As an example: What does the average american think of GM? A good product or a peice of junk that Toyota has them beat hands down?
And as long as the public think the later, they (the public) will need educating.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:25 pm)You’re right. +1.
Be well,
Tagamet
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:26 pm)I agree with you that more EREV model announcements would help GM’s image but until the world understands what a great thing EREV is, it would be limited in its effectiveness. People already understand and favor supporting renewable energy and community so as far as image building goes, this would be more effective right now IMHO.
Also, I’m sure behind the scenes, EREV development is quietly moving forward as fast as it can go. When the new technology is ripe and the price is right, that will be the time to open the curtain.
As far as “paying back” the government, that can only happen by making the stock price very attractive or if GM hits it off big, makes tens of billions profit and buys back its own stock. In either case, a strong and profitable company is necessary and image can only help achieve this.
+7
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:37 pm)The air was so bad in 1960′s Southern California, there were days that you couldn’t see the hillside a mile away. Years of effort have changed that. Now most days you can see clearly for miles. It’s not perfect, but it’s so incredible that we talk about it all the time. Life is so much better when the air is clear. GM investing in technology that provides renewable electricity and cleaner air is the right step to make breathing more enjoyable.
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:40 pm)CBK,
Thanks for the feedback on the test drive! It sounds like you had a good experience (and surreal is a good descriptor). Let’s just hope that GM “adjusts” their production numbers and roll-out plans.
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:44 pm)Thanks Scott, great educational resource! This will help plant desire seeds to accelerate the electric driving revolution.
It presents very simply and clearly the advantages of electric drive. For example:
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:49 pm)We mirrored your air improvement here in Penna, with our water quality improvement – and over the same time-period. Acid drainage from coal mines had turned many of our waterways a rust-colored orange. Many of the streams are now sustaining fish populations (as well as being a feast for the eyes).
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:52 pm)#19
Amen. +1
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:53 pm)I think about what Bill Gates has done for education in this country and support their effort to supply solar panels to schools. It will lower their electric bill and those funds can then be use in other ways that improve the quality of education in those schools that benefit from help given them by GM.
Toyota was just looking for a better image with their green ads but GM goes further by putting some of their profits into civil projects that will benefit the country. These are suggestion for spending the funds for this project. There will be other areas where GM can have a positive effect in improving our society. One could be scholarships for education in the field of energy. We are currently investing only about 1% of the total that goes into technology. Other countries invest far more in this area; we are losing the battle to gain global markets in the green technology area. Whatever GM does to help young students enter this field will be worthwhile. I encourage them to consider scholarships to achieve this goal.
With all the forest fires experienced around the country many trees have been destroyed. The act of planting trees has in the past proven to be effective. Restoring our parks is an excellent project to be involved in.
I am not sure how GM will execute some of the other ideas but each one is worth the effort. GM is doing a wonderful job to help our citizens be aware of the importance of our environment and shows that the company is committed to bettering life for everyone rather than just making the vehicles we use.
+1 for GM!
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:53 pm)#38
Amen to that too. +1
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:05 pm)I’m totally against “cap and trade” it will only hurt American companies while countries like India and China are exempt.. that’s total BS. I breath out CO2 .. are they going to tax you by how much you breath? Plants grow better with more CO2 and global warming is caused 80% by moisture in the atomosphere from the oceans…etc..etc.
Our company was helping GM factories all over the east coast run more efficient by identifying energy loses and fixing them .. when the government invested in GM we lost the contracts…. now they want to give money to schools and build foreign made windmills?
How is this helping GM and American industry? GM should concentrate on running the factories more efficient which will save more energy than any windmill they can buy. Things people don’t think about is that Windmills need maintenance… and have adverse affects on nature…such as keeping preditors away which creates a rodent problem.
I can’t wait until GM is free of the government burden… I’m sure every GM employee can’t wait too.
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:06 pm)Another thing I like about this approach is in viewing it as advertising dollars. So much is spent on advertising to what end? To attract customers of course, which I think this will accomplish but additionally serves the purpose of helping society with the same money.
+3
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:08 pm)This 5 years discretionary green fund comes out to grants of about $2 mil/Quarter. The aim is clear enough. Reduce carbon emissions. So what makes Chevy so savvy … a lot. ICE engineering today is all about ultra-clean. Which is why Cruze outdoes Honda and its competition. That makes GM ICE engineers as green savvy a group as anywhere.
I gather the other GM brands will at some point wind up with a likewise discretionary green fund.
Yesterday (Friday) GM’s common stood the test of large volume perfect.
What an L of a week…
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:16 pm)re: LRGVProVolt Says
Nov 20th, 2010 (12:53 pm) .I think about what Bill Gates has done for education in this country and support their effort to supply solar panels to schools. It will lower their electric bill and those funds can then be use in other ways that improve the quality of education in those schools that benefit from help given them by GM.
Our school teachers go on strike every 5 years when their “contract” is over… the result is that they get another 2 months free vacation..they never lose a penny.
They are on strike now…. they are making over $90,000 per year plus free medical you can’t even buy … plus all summer off … while the average household income in our area is just over $50,000 .. per household.
More money will not help education… what they need is competition just like any company.
They get 20 to 30 thousand applications a year for 5 to 10 jobs a year.
More Money will not help.
The best thing Bill Gates could do is find a way to bring competiton to our schools.
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:17 pm)The writing is on the wall. Corporations know that it is in their long-term best interest to invest in efficiency and sustainability. Now that the planet-killing party is back in charge in the US House, most of the forward-looking action is going to come from voluntary efforts in the business community.
And they will only increase in the next decades. As we begin to reach planetary limits on raw materials as well as pollution levels, the only way to continue to grow the economy is through universal implementation of closed-loop methods. Corporate responsibility is therefore equivalent in an economic sense to increasing the long-term supply of raw materials. In other words, the only capitalism with a future is Natural Capitalism.
William McDonough, Amory Lovins, Admiral James Woolsey and other visionaries who’ve led this charge since the ’90s are finally being vindicated as Wal-Mart, GM, countless other US corporations (and even pockets of China) begin to implement their strategies. They are the blueprint for what will define tomorrow’s *standard operating procedures.*
Someday in the not-too-distant future, office buildings will breathe–and produce, not consume energy and water. And factories may be built to generate zero waste (or treat it all on site), among other innovations. And people will be aghast at why we spent so many decades, not only carelessly wasting–but *actively justifying* the wasting–of vast, vast quantities of the Earth’s bounty. Which could have been put to far more productive use.
+4
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:24 pm)Here’s what one relative said when we discussed the Volt.
“If the technology is so clever and revolutionary, why is it only employed in one of their vehicles? I’ll wait until it’s proven and it proliferates to other brands and models before I make a purchase.”
I told him GM will probably wait a year before announcing additional Voltec vehicles so that Volt sales are not diluted by futures plans. I also said he would change his mind when I let him test drive my Volt.
NPNS!
+4
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:54 pm)Regardless of polls and greenwashing, people at the end vote with their pockets.. so it all depends on the cost and availability of oil. Coal-to-liquids, gas-to-liquids and biofuels will probably cap the cost of liquid fuel to about $4 a gallon eventually (equivalent to $100 a barrel oil, not including inflation), there will be some price fluctuations on the way there but that is where it will settle at, in my opinion. Eventually cheap power, very good batteries and the convenience of refueling at home will trump that $4 fuel.
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:57 pm)Richardson,
40 million… not 400 learn to read.
-4
Nov 20th, 2010 (1:59 pm)_____________________________________________________________________
Volt Named Green Car of the Year: +1
GM Returns to the Stock Market: +1
Volt Named Automobile Magazine 2011 Automobile of the Year: +1
Volt Named Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year: +1
but….
GM gives away $40,000,000 to 3rd Party Clean Energy Projects: -1
It’s amazing to me that GM Marketing does not understand that GM giving away $40,000,000 (irrespective of the cause) before paying back the borrowed taxpayer funds works against GM PR wise.
Each time one of those commercials come on TV many viewers (like me) will be hearing this: “GM Management and GM Marketing have determined you are too stupid to be anything other than impressed that we are giving away $40,000,000 of your taxpayer borrowed funds to appear more green.”
___________________________________________________________________
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:13 pm)This is fun. GM’s on a roll. Going to be great to see what they can do now that they can actually be a vehicle company again. Some of the best work Americans do is when our backs are against the wall. Chrysler did it a couple of times. Signs for GM are pointing straight north.
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:26 pm)If you hurry, the feds will pay for it!
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:36 pm)Is it just me or is that outlet upside down. :>)
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:45 pm)The US emits about 6 billion metric tons per year of CO2, so a reduction of 8 million metric tons is somewhat small. But it is a first step.
Of the 6 billion metric tones emitted, about 2.0 comes from the Transportation sector, about 2.4 from the Utility sector, and the rest from commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. Note that 2.0 metric tons or about 1/3rd of the US CO2 emissions come from coal-fired power plants.
In the big scheme of things, $40 million is not a great deal of money these days (How much was the bailout? $50 billion?).
I’m sure this is partially a PR move by GM, however, we must remember that GM is a global company. And many companies in foreign countries are being taxed on their global CO2 emissions, not just their local CO2 emissions.
So as another poster mentioned, if we can encourage the public to drive electrically, and clean the grid at the same time, that reduces emissions from both the transportation and utility sectors. When the Volt (and other Voltec vehicles) are paired with these green projects, Chevy can make a significant statement.
+5
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:49 pm)GM is no longer in charge of ‘paying back’ the federal government. The government has to sell it’s shares for that to happen.
If this $40M increases the value of GM stock, then, it’s a step in the right direction.
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:50 pm)I’m sorry that your company lost its contracts with GM (must have been the old GM). I doubt that the government investing in GM caused your company the lose of contracts. And what is wrong with contributing to our schools? Furthermore, those windmills are not all foreign made. I hope your company gets its contracts back with GM. To me, it sounds like you have your pent up anger misdirected.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:50 pm)Electricity production is already quite diverse, and all forms use domestic fuel sources. The U.S. has been called the Saudi Arabia of coal. We have enough coal to last for many generations. So adding renewables has no affect on energy security.
And since we don’t use oil to generate electricity, renewables have no affect on peak oil.
To be clear, I’m not against renewables. I just don’t like confusing the issues.
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (2:53 pm)Yes, well said, +1.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:01 pm)You amaze me. You haven’t the slightest idea of what teachers spend out of their own pocket to help their students. And where do you get your figures on salaries from? That can’t be anywhere near the truth. It sounds like you lost your job (based on this and your former statement). If that’s the case, I do feel for you and hope that the future gets brighter for you.
<Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+4
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:02 pm)Well, I don’t know where you live but I’d be very surprised to learn that teachers are really making more than 90K a year in your area. I should know, I’m a teacher myself and I don’t make that kind of money, not even close, even after more than 20 years of experience.
The last car I had, I kept 16 years – which is the case of most teachers I know. A lot of students are driving better cars than teachers in my college, for crying out loud.
As for the applications for a job, which you believe to be plentyful, we rack our brains every time an opening occurs, trying to find somebody qualified and willing to do the job for so little money. Every time we fail and get somebody sub standards, our departement, as a group, pay for it because we have to make damage control for the job he or she can’t do properly. I’m not even mentioning the waste of student talent involved when this occurs.
So please, if you believe the conditions to be so good, get a college diploma (I have three) and apply. You’ll be so exhausted after a year, you’ll understand why we need two months of rest to keep our sanity.
As for your comment about “they need competition just like any company”, it only shows the extent of your ignorance about what it is to teach. Again, I urge you to embrace the career if you believe it is a breeze.
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:05 pm)Actually, 110V outlet with the ground pin up is the safe way to install it. If a plug were partially out and something conducting fell across the exposed contact it wouldn’t hurt it. This is the way I have seen them in the work place. Probably a good idea in a garage.
+2
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:06 pm)Pulled it out of thin air it seems. Here is a link to real data showing less than half of 90k.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:07 pm)Let me summarize some of the posts today: “It’s sunny and 75, light winds, sweet smell in the air. Terrible day.”
Beatches of the world are uniting. Please drop the hate stick and get onboard the GM smile train.
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:17 pm)OT: EVWORLD Insider: Bill Moore hassome scathing comments about Rush Limbaugh and others:
“rightwing windbags like Rush Limbaugh, clueless cable pundits like Steve Forbes, and a phalanx of modern day blog-wielding yellow journalists.”
http://evworld.com/insider.cfm?id=288&archyr=2010#family
Go to the last sequence on the page; Off to Drive the Volt. He is headed off to Detroit for a test drive of the Volt as one of the last journalists who gets their chance to actually experience the drive and comment on that experience. Judging from his attitude, we can expect another good report by an honest journalist who loves the electric car.
Bill Moore’s Perspective includes a number of interesting comments on other topics: I particularly found the one on America’s Energy Investment Gap enlightening.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again,/a>
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (3:36 pm)Thanks for joining in, Loboc! Our teachers have taken some hard knocks; more than they deserve.
I reposted an OT comment that was put up in yesterdays article. In the link. Bills Moore also gives his perspective on “America’s Energy Investment Gap”. I misquoted the Industry R&D Spending as a Percentage of Sales earlier; it’s only 0.3% for energy. We will loose the battle to capture a good part of global green energy industry if we don’t increase funding for this industrial segment. I would hope that GM not only spends part of that $400 million for solar panels at schools but that they also grant student scholarships to enter into the energy field.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (4:39 pm)GM can do two things at the same time.
First, GM can provide free educational material, and maybe some that can be purchased at low prices, to teach our younger children (six to twelve years) about the generation, storage, and uses of electricity and lead that to the electric automobile. Almost every young boy (including myself many years ago) and a few young girls played with battery-powered vehicles, including free running and remote controlled toys. Explain how safe that is and how easy it is to recharge the batteries to play again (using commercially sold GM branded toy cars will help). Then teach them about full sized electric cars for their parents and friends (with the Volt), and how easy they are to be used and recharged. The purpose is to take the combustion powered vehicles off their minds, and give them the correct choice for their future.
Then GM should provide similar materials for the teen-aged population in high schools, who will begin driving soon. The material should be as interesting as possible (with some remote cars, too), explaining about the safety features and durability of past and present electric transportation (including the Moon Buggy), but ending with a ride and a drive (for licensed drivers) in the Volt. All of this will open their minds about the advantages of clean electric transportation, give them a clear view about the impact of combustion on the environment that they will inherit from us soon, and ending with future Volt clients.
I believe that if one of every twenty students (that learns about electric transportation from this program) decides to buy a Volt when they are old enough and have the means, the investment will be little in comparison with the new mindset and new Chevy customers that GM will gain.
I was an Programming and Electronics teacher for ten years, and I know that special training material and equipment with a company brand does influence future purchases. But I wish GM to do this the best way. IBM knows this for almost a hundred years, and teaching programming on IBM computers created new professionals in the IT business that will buy IBM for their needs. I am one of those IBM fans (I am typing now on a X41 Tablet ThinkPad).
GM must do the same now!
Raymond
Nov 20th, 2010 (5:10 pm)I hope they will have them at the LA Auto Show, because I did not get a test drive.
Including some with the purchased Volt may be a good idea to cover unused outlets on the Volt charger circuit and prevent tripping a circuit breaker.
Nov 20th, 2010 (6:20 pm)Besides, if it was really upside down, when oriented correctly, the caption would upside down (G).
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (6:25 pm)If I had a Volt, there’d be a chalk line on the floor, to mark the area of sacredness. Maybe a couple of votive candles for atmosphere…. Well, at least the “Smile-zone” around the car would be marked.
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (6:34 pm)Yeah, I can’t stand outlets that don’t look like two eyes and a nose.
Actually, that picture is upside down. The Volt plug insert doesn’t line up right if you put it in right side up on outlets that have the third ground terminal on the bottom. So I put the insert in upside down and then rotated the picture 180 degrees so it was readable.
I think technically the ground is supposed to be on top, but I don’t like it that way aesthetically.
join thE REVolution
Nov 20th, 2010 (6:40 pm)Nurse! Med check time.
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (6:43 pm)As I said, I think that’s because the ground pin should be up for outlets in a garage.
Nov 20th, 2010 (7:14 pm)Yeah, you’re right on. I was going to quote you too, but I figured you’d see my comment. Actually, it’s not just garage outlets, but all outlets.
Of course, like I said my outlet is actually the other way, and it’s the picture that’s upside down.
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Nov 20th, 2010 (7:14 pm)LOL. Yeah, sometimes the tiniest things bug me.
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Nov 20th, 2010 (7:14 pm)You deserve an allocation for that comment! But a chalk line? How about a red carpet?
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (7:20 pm)Bless you for the allocation remark.
I actually went with a chalk line, because it allows for adaptations over time. I’m sure that the smile-zone will only grow larger – smiles like radiation and concussions are cumulative.
Be well,
Tagamet
-1
Nov 20th, 2010 (7:25 pm)Richardson,
I’m all for that. I lost thousands in gm stock when it became worthless.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (7:59 pm)This article is incorrect. GM is not “investing.” GM is giving money away. Read the article carefully: “Funds will be awarded through third-party non-profit organizations such as…” In other words, GM is donating $40 million to non-profits which will in turn fund these projects. That takes this out of the investment category and puts into the category of PR. Not sure how this changes anything, but I’m just pointing out that the correct term should be funding or donating, not investing.
Nov 20th, 2010 (8:08 pm)Improving energy efficiency is kind of like insurance. Let’s not forget the true cause of the 2008 economic downturn.. OIL PRICES. When gas went to $5, not only did consumers have less money to blow on goods, but the radius of affordable commuting shrunk dramatically. Now all those new construction homes at the edge of sprawl were not economical, even at cost. so they went unsold which collapsed the rest of the real estate prices. The economic crash that followed was merely a by-product of real estate price collapse since everyone was so heavily leveraged into it. The cause of it all was oil prices.. I wish that would be mentioned more in the news.. The less oil your daily life consumes, the more stable it will be.. the more stable we will all be.
Nov 20th, 2010 (8:24 pm)Excellent point.
Efficiency won’t get us there, not by a long shot. We need to replace gasoline with other fuel sources.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (8:31 pm)I hadn’t thought of that— good idea!
Tagamet,
Nov 20th, 2010 (8:33 pm)“As such, the funding for this initiative will come specifically from the Chevrolet brand and will be spent over the next 3 to 5 years on various projects that “promote energy savings, renewable energy, responsible use of natural resources and conservation in communities across the United States.”
Did you take time to read the article? Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Nov 20th, 2010 (8:52 pm)I fully recognize that passions run deep, but I think that you and Grady are only disagreeing about semantics. Invest. Spend. It’s all the same.
Be well,
Tagamet
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:09 pm)Tagamet, I realize that you like to moderate. Please note that I was not disagreeing with Grady; just pointing out that Lyle used the word funding in his article just like Grady suggested. He is the one disagreeing about semantics, not I.
Be Well, Tag.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:22 pm)No it was not “old GM” it was when new GM was directed to cut expenses in 2009… just when it’s CEO was fired.
I guess providing solar cells for schools is more important than installing more efficient lighting in mills…
Contributing to schools means giving them money… giving teachers that make over $90,000 will not be appreciated is my point.
When all you hear in the media is about poor school teachers … and watch school teachers making over $90,000 going on strike… yes it angers you to hear Bill Gates giving schools more money when what they really need is competition.
Nov 20th, 2010 (9:29 pm)Paying back the government is now out of their hands. GM paid back the loan, and the remaining stock owned by the government will be sold by the government when the government wants to sell it. Since the government paid about $43/share and has sold a significant portion at $33 then they will have to wait until the shares are over $50 before they can sell the rest and break even.
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:29 pm)Now this is more like it! 40 million dollars for wind projects. Way to go Chevy! Also I do hope that all states invest in clean energy and last but not least I am a fan of wind turbines and other things when it comes to alternative energy except clean coal because there is no such thing as clean coal at all everybody agree with me?
Nov 20th, 2010 (10:37 pm)But still they do need to fix up there image when it come to there vehicles just to say and I do agree with all of you.
+1
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:06 pm)I challenge anyone to even FIND a teacher that makes that much.
If they do, give it to them! They obviously know how to make double or more what other teachers make and are well-versed in managing funds.
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:15 pm)Another one that needs the Gm-Volt painting crew to come by…
Nov 20th, 2010 (11:21 pm)So far the drive log shows
Total_Miles = 628.9 miles
EV_Miles = 496.5 miles
Gallons_Gas = 3.35 gallons
So if electricity is 12 cents/KHw and gas is 3.00/gallon and the Volt averages 265 W/mile
The true cost comparison would be to a car getting 73 miles per gallon.
It’s only a guess since we don’t know how much total electricity was put into the Volt.
265 W/mile would be about a 40 mile EV range
Cost_Comparison =
Total_Miles/((Watts_Per_Mile*Total_EV_Miles*Electricity_Cost_per_KWh/1000)/Gas_Cost_Per_Gallon) + Gallons_Gas_Used)
Cost_Comparison =
628.9/((0.4965*Watts_Per_Mile*Electricity_Cost_per_KWh)/Gas_Cost_Per_Gallon) + 3.35)
Nov 21st, 2010 (7:11 am)LRGVProVolt,
My bad then. Sorry.
Happy Trails,
Tagamet
+3
Nov 21st, 2010 (7:25 am)Excellent point, +1.
The key word here is “if”.
Global Warming is getting to be like religion. Many people believe it, many don’t.
For the group who believe global warming is a scam, the vast majority understand energy independence, and the security issues surrounding peak oil.
So GM investing in green technology is likely to be a wedge issue, where GM investing in electric drive is not.
As for myself, I do believe in global warming, but I think it’s a long term problem, and peak oil will hit much sooner, so we have to deal with that first. It’s sort of like the way we helped the Soviet Union in order to defeat Hitler, and then fought them in the cold war. If coal allows us to become energy independent, then we’ll have the economic resources to ween ourselves away from coal in the future.
-2
Nov 21st, 2010 (9:03 am)What in the hell is wrong with the “New GM”? They got DUMB for brains. I believe that we the citizens of this country went through the frustration of giving money to a “Private” company such as what GM likes to describe as “The New GM”.
Wake up guys, Clean Energy Projects are fine as long as the New GM applies them strictly to making Clean Energy Vehicles such as the “Volt”. It is now November and the Volt should be on the road and in my area, the dealers have NO idea when the Volt is going to be available.
This was GM’s opportunity to shine however, the ole establishment will say “You got to follow my lead” of [failure] and just maybe we can get some Tax Money to assure the big executive bonuses. Get off your big dumb ass and keep your mind and efforts on YOUR business i.e., which should be, the building of drivable fuel efficent/EV machines that we drive on our roads, tracks, farm fields, waterways. Otherwise vehicles which eats much of the fuel provided and contaminates.
The wind and solar projects are fine but keep your nose out of them and keep focused on the vehicle business and make sure you pay your public commitment back. I know! the forty million is just one good senior executive bonus and the New GM is probably getting a good laugh at the small amount however, I don’t see any efforts in this being applied by GM to recharching stations for the EV!
Nov 21st, 2010 (1:32 pm)Haha, yeah I know, I know.
I need to just prime the darn walls, it will look much better. Maybe stick a Volt logo somewhere too. 
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Nov 22nd, 2010 (2:15 pm)Until GM pays off their debt, they are spending our money.
PAY OFF YOUR DEBT FIRST!!!
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