Car manufacturer General Motors (GM) is gone with the wind for all of its cost-saving benefits. "It provides economic certainty to electricity forecasts," said Rob Threlkeld, GM's manager of global renewable energy strategy, as well as savings over the years. Threlkeld discusses the path to fulfilling GM's RE100 commitment to become 100 percent powered by renewable energy, including two deals to source wind power from Ohio and Illinois, respectively. "There are sound business reasons when you look at where wind and solar have gone," said Threlkeld. And it is easier than ever to make the smart economic and environmental choice due to virtual power purchase agreements, the Renewable Energy Business Alliance and the Business Renewables Center. Where once a renewable power deal took over a year to finalize, it now takes four to five months. "We're streamlining the process," said Threlkeld.