supply chain

Geologic Formation via Shutterstock

Rare earth metals are naturally occurring minerals whose properties make them uniquely suited to certain clean technologies, particularly electric vehicles and wind turbines. The components in these clean technologies — including magnets, superconducting wire, batteries, and motors — are made possible through the unique properties these rare earth metals provide.[read more]

Supply Chain via Shutterstock

This column has focused largely on market barriers and consumer engagement with clean energy, but less on the supply chain portion of  companies’ business models. Along with supplying end-products, the clean energy economy will be populated by many companies who are purely in the business of supplying the materials used in clean...[read more]

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Do most Americans spend eight or more hours of their days thinking about electricity?  No.  They spend their days worrying about more important things, like how to convince their children to sensibly use various social media channels; saving enough for retirement; and securing help for aging relatives.  In other words,...[read more]

It’s becoming more clear every day that cleaner energy and environmental sustainability depends on private industry.The expiration of many renewable energy incentives, zero prospects for a U.S. carbon tax or a cap and trade program, restraints on public spending and the low price and growing supplies of natural gas are putting...[read more]

One look at the huge ship (612 feet long) and you knew it was something special.  It was backed up to the middle bridge of the Piscataqua River and loomed over the roadway.  How to handle the ship and its cargo is a project.  The Port Director at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, considered the project as a new opportunity, and...[read more]

Aug 9, President Obama will announce new fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards for heavy-duty trucks. This is a historic step forward because these are first-ever standards of this type and they start of process of what are expected to be ongoing improvements in heavy truck performance. The standards will result in freight...[read more]

Ship propulsion poses one of the more troubling post-carbon problems. It should be noted that ships were once powered by wind energy, sometimes supplemented by oars rowed by slaves. This form of propulsion was very unsatisfactory and renewable energy was replaced by fossil fuel derived energy during the 19th century. There were a...[read more]

Jim Riccio, a longtime professional Greenpeace activist, has posted a blog on Greenpeace International titled Obama, the Oracle of Omaha & Nuclear Power in which he strongly recommends that President Obama follow the energy investment lead provided by Warren Buffett. Here is a quote. Time and again, Buffett's corporation MidAmerican...[read more]

Cargill has signed an agreement with SkySails GmbH & Co. KG (SkySails) to use wind power technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry. SkySails, based in Hamburg, has developed innovative, patented technology that uses a kite which flies ahead of the vessel and generates enough propulsion to reduce...[read more]

Take a look at any one of the concentrating solar power (CSP) projects in the U.S. and elsewhere, and you can see that – while CSP is undeniably the most efficient form of solar energy—the land needed (5 to 10 acres per megawatt) is considerable. At least, it used to be. Now, a company called Nanogen Power Systems, Inc. has developed...[read more]

Two news items caught my eye this week, not only for what they were attempting to achieve but for the (possibly?) vastly different approaches being taken.  Two governments- one the U.S, the other the U.K.  Both governments have been progressively stepping up efforts to engage federal contractors and vendors to support...[read more]

Last week, the Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine announced the recipients of its 2010 Green Supply Chain Awards.  These awards recognize companies that are making sustainability a core part of their supply chain strategies. This is quite an impressive list and perhaps it shows that “green supply chain” as an integral...[read more]

Amid the pre- and post-election haze here in the U.S and the taking of the World Series by the San Francisco Giants (first since 1954), comes ISO 26000, Guidance on Social Responsibility. This guidance document from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) integrates international expertise on social responsibility...[read more]

Admit it- we’ve all done it.  Procrastinated. Waited until the brink of a bad outcome.  Not taken the time to thoughtfully, proactively, pragmatically complete an assignment, implement a new ‘leading edge’ technology or launch a disruptively innovative initiative.  Instead we react, overlook great ideas for something...[read more]

In late 2009, Green Seal[1] announced that they had developed a pilot sustainability standard for product manufacturers called “GS-C1”. This pilot standard recognizes socially and environmentally responsible product manufacturers so consumers can make informed choices while helping companies save money by reducing the resources they...[read more]