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Beyond the Concrete

March 23, 2025

The 28-Day Compressive Strength Test: Is it Really the Best Measure of Concrete’s Durability?

The 28-day compressive strength test has long been considered the gold standard for evaluating concrete performance. It's been the go-to method for everything from design decisions to regulatory compliance. But, as we dug into in our latest episode,…

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March 16, 2025

Why Soft Skills Are Key to Advancing Your Career in Concrete Construction

Introduction: Why Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think in Concrete Construction Alright, let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough love in the concrete construction world—soft skills. Now, I know what you’re think…

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March 9, 2025

McKinley’s Tariffs: A Lesson from History

As the U.S. once again debates the use of tariffs to protect domestic industries, history offers a valuable case study in how such policies play out over time. President William McKinley, one of the staunchest advocates for protectionism in U.S. his…

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March 2, 2025

Type IL Cement and the PCA: Environmental Progress or Economic Strategy?

Federal Incentives and Policy Drivers for Type IL Cement During 2019–2024, multiple federal actions incentivized the cement industry’s shift to Type IL (Portland-Limestone Cement). Congressional legislation explicitly promoted lower-car…

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Feb. 23, 2025

The Real Crisis: Trash, Not the CO2 Boogeyman

So you think CO2 is the big bad wolf? Let me tell you about something even worse: garbage. We talk a lot about carbon emissions, but what about the literal mountains of waste we throw away every single day? Glass, plastic, construction debris&mdash…

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Feb. 16, 2025

Natural Gas and Data Centers: A Growing Trend We Saw Coming

The rapid growth of AI and cloud services is fueling an unprecedented surge in data center energy consumption. As power grids strain under this demand, natural gas is emerging as the go-to solution. Recent reports reveal that U.S. federal regulators…

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Feb. 9, 2025

Choosing Between Roman Concrete and Modern Blended Cement Concrete

  When faced with the decision between Roman concrete and today's blended cement concrete, one might lean towards the ancient marvel of Roman concrete. Despite the advancements in modern concrete technology, Roman concrete continues to captiva…

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Feb. 2, 2025

The Future of AI Data Centers: Balancing Innovation and Computing Costs

In a recent interview with Lyn Alden, a renowned global macro expert, several critical insights were shared about the future of AI data centers, their heavy computing costs, and the broader implications for the energy sector and investment opportuni…

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Jan. 27, 2025

California Doesn't Want to Recycle Plastics

Plastic along the beaches of Santa Monica Bay | California Ocean Protection Council In a recent article, Doomberg discusses ExxonMobil's advanced plastic recycling efforts at their Baytown facility, where discarded materials are transformed into va…

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Jan. 19, 2025

Drilling Ban: A Bold Move or Federal Overreach?

Map of banned drilling areas | Fox News In a striking demonstration of executive power, President Joe Biden recently issued an executive order banning offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of unleased coastal waters. This sweeping …

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Jan. 12, 2025

Why SMRs Might Not Be the Best Bet for Nuclear Energy

Vogtle 4 - Georgia Power Henry Ford famously said, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” This idea of standardization to reduce costs isn't just for cars; it can work for nuclear power too…

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Jan. 5, 2025

All Aboard the Crazy Train—Why Some "Green" Energy Ideas Need to Stay at the Station

Sometimes, the harebrained schemes that government and corporate bureaucrats dream up make you stop and wonder: are they serious, or is this a satirical performance art piece? The latest chapter in “Taxpayer Dollars Go Off the Rails” com…

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Dec. 29, 2024

Fusion Energy: A Quixotic Project?

Project Announcement in Chesterfield County, VA Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has announced plans to build the world’s first commercial fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia[1][2]. This project, known as ARC, represents a …

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Dec. 22, 2024

The Resurgence of Coal

In a surprising turn of events, global coal consumption is set to reach unprecedented levels this year, defying previous predictions of a decline. According to Robert Bryce's recent article, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that co…

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Dec. 15, 2024

China Runs The Table

On Monday, the Biden administration issued new restrictions on the export of key semiconductor equipment and software to China. On Tuesday, China retaliated by banning the export to the US of three strategic elements — antimony, gall…

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Dec. 1, 2024

California's Clean Air Initiatives and the Potential Economic Impact on the East Coast

  California's Clean Air Initiatives California has long been at the forefront of environmental regulation, leveraging a unique waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. This waiver allows California…

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Nov. 24, 2024

Why Data Centers Need Their Own Onsite Energy Solutions

Burning away data center power (TexasObserver.com) Data centers are the beating heart of our digital lives. From streaming services and virtual meetings to AI-driven recommendations and government operations, data centers quietly power it all. Howe…

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Nov. 17, 2024

Washington State's Natural Gas Vote: A Turning Point for Zero Carbon?

NurPhoto/Getty In a turn of events that might surprise climate activists, the residents of Washington State recently voted to keep natural gas in their energy mix. This decision reflects a shifting attitude towards zero-carbon ambitions, where prac…

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Nov. 10, 2024

Why Battery Storage Falls Short: Insights from a Green Chicken

As a premium subscriber of Doomberg and host of the Concrete Logic Podcast, I’m enthusiastic to share insights from the latest article, “Storage Units,” which delves into the critical examination of our current approach to rene…

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Nov. 3, 2024

Blended Cements: Potential Challenges and Solutions

This article dives into the world of blended cements, highlighting some of the key challenges they can bring to concrete production. We will examine the importance of blended cements in the concrete industry, analyze the potential challenges associa…

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Oct. 27, 2024

Electrifying Everything Means Higher Energy Costs For Consumers. These DOE Numbers Prove It (Again)

After months of stonewalling, the agency finally published residential energy cost data. Electricity now costs 3.5 times more per Btu than natural gas.   Last year, Stacey Abrams, a prominent Democrat who served in the Georgia House of Repres…

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Oct. 13, 2024

Growing Demand for Concrete Professionals: A Career with Potential

The construction industry is experiencing a surge in demand for skilled professionals, and the concrete sector is no exception. This blog post delves into the reasons behind this growing demand, exploring the stability and exciting opportunities tha…

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Oct. 6, 2024

The Next Gold Rush Is Blue

The Global Water Footprint Water is everywhere, yet it's the commodity we most take for granted. From the ice caps to tropical rainforests, water is the heartbeat of our planet. But how much do we use and what does that mean for the future? Let's …

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Sept. 29, 2024

Banks Back Nuclear Energy

Plant Vogtle | southernnuclear.com   At the Concrete Logic Podcast, we've always advocated for nuclear energy as the practical, common-sense solution to meet the world's skyrocketing energy demands. Whether it's fueling the enormous appetite …

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