Possible New GM Plant In Michigan
You Can Let GM Know The New Plant Should Be In Michigan
June 19, 2009
By: MyBayCity Staff
General Motors is working on its next generation of vehicles
and looking to open a new plant to make this subcompact model. Right now three states are in the running for this new plant, including Michigan.
General Motors has announced that it will choose between three plants, one in Tennessee, another in Wisconsin and one right here in Michigan, to build GM's newest vehicle.
Since 1999, Orion Assembly has been powered in part by trapped methane gas from a nearby landfill. The use of landfill gas reduced the plant's usage of coal from approximately 60,000 tons to less than 20,000 tons of coal per year, and greatly reduces the volume of pollutants released into the air. The use of landfill gas saved GM more than $1.3 million in energy costs last year alone.
In 2008, the Orion Assembly plant was recognized by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a Clean Corporate Citizen for 5 years in a row, and was given the Clean Corporate Citizen Longevity Award. The Environmental Protection Agency awarded Orion Assembly its 1999 Landfill Methane Outreach Program Project of the Year Award. GM has been recognized as an environmental leader by organizations such as the Society of Automotive Engineers and the National Recycling Coalition because of the innovative use of landfill gas to power the Orion Assembly.
The State of Michigan has a large, well trained workforce of autoworkers, engineers, and other critical employees necessary for the success of a retooled small car facility. Michigan has more than 65,000 automotive R&D professionals, 560,000 high-tech professionals, and ranks third nationally in the number of college graduates earning engineering degrees.
This means that not only will the Orion Assembly facility itself be staffed by some of the best auto workers in the world, GM can count on local suppliers having access to one of the best trained, most innovative workforces in the country.
Southeast Michigan is home to more auto parts suppliers than any other area in the country, and locating the new small car facility in the heart of this extensive supplier network benefits GM in many ways.
For example, a closer supplier network means that GM will pay less to ship parts to Orion Assembly, and those parts will take less time to arrive. Additionally, because so many of these suppliers not only produce parts in Michigan but are actually headquartered here, it will be easier for plant management to work with the supplier to innovate new improvements.
In addition to the close access to outside suppliers, Orion Assembly is closer to GM's powertrain facilities, meaning that large, heavy, and expensive to ship items such as engines and transmissions can get to Orion quicker and at a lower cost.
Only 35 miles separate GM's corporate headquarters at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit and Orion Assembly. When plant and enterprise management need to meet face to face, they can do so quickly. Over the lifetime of the plant this will result in substantial savings for travel and lodging. More importantly, it will encourage close relationships and quick decision making.
Michigan has been General Motors, home for 100 years. The Make It In Michigan campaign website invites Michiganders to protect Michigan's future by adding your name to an open letter to GM.
The website promotes building GM's new vehicle in Michigan makes good business sense. Our state is home to GM's key auto suppliers, GM headquarters and tech center, and the most talented engineers and skilled workers in the world.
Rep. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) from the 9th District is organizing the grassroots campaign to have Michiganders let GM know the new plant should be in the home of America's auto industry.
Make It In Michigan Website
The link takes you to a video message from Congressman Peters and asks that you click on a link to add your name to the open letter to GM, as well as being mentioned on the above Web site.