GM to build first electric motor plant in US

The General Motors Co. (GM) Tuesday announced its plan to build an electric motor plant near Baltimore, Maryland, the first such plant dedicated to making key components for electric vehicles in the US. The plant is scheduled to open in 2013.

“We believe the future of sustainable transportation is electrically driven vehicles and this facility will help us maintain a leadership position within this category,” said Mike Robinson, GM Vice President in charge of environment and safety policy.

GM has dedicated $269.5 million to the building of the plant. It said that the plant will be powered in part by a 1.23-megawatt rooftop solar array, which is expected to generate nine percent of its annual energy consumption and save approximately $330,000 during the life of the project.

GM said last week it plans to invest $2 billion in the US over the next few years.