New Jobs and the Clean Cars Program

General Motors announced last week that it will be adding 180 new jobs building electric motors at its facility in White Marsh, Maryland. The new motors will help to power electric and/or plug-in hybrid vehicles that have the ability to operate at times without gasoline, thus improving vehicle fuel economy and producing less global warming pollution. The planned expansion of the White Marsh factory is an indirect result of stronger vehicle emission standards adopted by the Obama Administration in 2009, and represents a major change for GM. 

In 2007, as Maryland’s General Assembly considered adopting the Clean Cars Program (California’s strong vehicle emission standards), GM fought the proposed legislation, warning of economic harm and job losses. Despite the opposition of GM and other automakers, Maryland’s leaders chose to improve the state’s air quality and reduce global warming emissions by adopting the Clean Cars Program. 

By 2009, a total of 14 states had adopted tough emission standards for cars and light trucks. Automakers, finally recognizing the need and demand for less polluting vehicles, supported the Obama Administration’s plan to adopt the Clean Cars Program nationally. These stronger standards will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil, save consumers money, and reduce global warming pollution by 900 million metric tons compared to the previous federal standard. 

And here in Maryland, General Motors will be hiring 180 workers to produce the electric motors that will be essential for clean vehicles.