• November 19, 2010

General Motors' Chevrolet division, which just walked away with several "Car of the year" awards for its electric Volt car, says it is investing $40 million in a rasher of clean energy projects throughout America. The company's goal is to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The plan, to be initiated over the next three to five years, includes giving on smart energy sensors and solar panels to schools and other community-based facilities that need to upgrade to clean tech; wind farms and solar projects; methane capture from from community landfills; and forestry projects throughout America.

Chevy says it will be making investments through third-party organizations such as Portland, OR-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation. It has brought in environmental experts, NGO's and academics through the Climate Neutral Business Network.

The company has launched a Web site, ChevyCarbonReduction.com, to promote. Chevy also is talking about it on ChevyCarbon on Twitter and its Cleaner Energy Facebook tab and its BeyondNow blog.