GM: All US facilities will be powered by renewables by 2025

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. secure / sɪˈkyʊər / (v.) – to get something important, usually after a lot of effort or difficulty
    Example:

    The journalist has secured a pass to get into the senate hearing.


  2. automaker / ˈɔ toʊˌmeɪ kər / (n.) – a company that manufactures and sells cars
    Example:

    They are the biggest automaker in the world and have sold the most cars in history.


  3. sourcing / ˈsɔr sɪŋ / (n.) – the act of getting a supply of products, raw materials, etc.
    Example:

    A purchasing staff is responsible for the sourcing of the factory’s production supplies.


  4. sustainable / səˈsteɪ nə bəl / (adj.) – involving methods or systems that use but do not completely use up or destroy natural resources
    Example:

    The company is working toward having sustainable operations using solar and wind energy.


  5. ultimately / ˈʌl tə mɪt li / (adv.) – finally, after a long and often complicated series of events
    Example:

    After a long discussion, the president signed the bill and it ultimately became law.


Article

Read the text below.

General Motors said that it has secured all of the renewable energy it needs to power all of its U.S. facilities by 2025, 25 years ahead of earlier projections.


The Detroit automaker, which initially targeted the year 2050 to achieve its all-renewables goal, said it secured sourcing agreements from 16 renewable energy plants across 10 states.


In early 2021, GM moved up its all-renewables target date to 2030, then advanced that goal by five years in October.


The five-year difference will help erase an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equal to the emissions produced by burning 1 billion pounds of coal, GM said.


“We believe it is critical — to ourselves, to our customers and to the future of the planet — to step up our efforts and reach ambitious targets that move us closer to a more sustainable world,” says Kristen Siemen, the company’s chief sustainability officer. “Securing the renewable energy we need to achieve our goal demonstrates tangible progress in reducing our emissions in all aspects of our business, ultimately moving us closer to our vision of a future with zero emissions.”


In recent years, the Detroit automaker has committed to invest $35 billion into electric and autonomous vehicle production with the goal of eliminating tailpipe emissions from its U.S. light-duty autos by 2035.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • GM’s target date for its all-renewables goal was moved from 2050 to 2025. How do you think this action benefits consumers? What are the benefits to GM? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is meeting a company goal at an earlier date good at all times? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Do you know someone who tries to live a sustainable life? Why do you think some people find it hard to live in such a way? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, should people still try to exert individual efforts if other big companies with massive impact do not try to operate sustainably? Why or why not? Discuss.