The EPA is moving to roll back the 2009 Endangerment Finding — at least for motor vehicles — and with it, scrap the CO₂ limits that were supposed to tighten the screws on model years 2027 through 2032. If this happens, automakers won’t have to hi…

Three Gorges Dam | Doomberg I was recently catching up on my favorite Substacker Doomberg's insightful piece titled "Five Dams in Tibet," discussing China's colossal Medog hydroelectric project. Scrolling through the comments, I stumbled upon a sta…

I’ve never been a flag-waving cheerleader for American imperialism. In fact, I used to be pretty disgusted with how we tried to run the world. But lately, I’ve changed my mind—not because we got better, but because I finally got a good look at wh…

Fort Monroe, Virginia - Oldest Military Base | Source: Visit Hampton Virginia The latest spending bill—officially called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"—just landed, and while everyone's busy debating tax cuts and defense budgets, we're looking at…

Heat might help your schedule, but it’s hurting your concrete. We’ve said it before on the podcast, and after spending another hour with Bob Higgins, it’s worth repeating: hot weather pours don’t give you better concrete—they give you faster failure…

It’s hard to keep track of all the green buzzwords floating around the concrete industry these days—“net zero,” “low-carbon cement,” “sustainable construction.” On the surface, it sounds like progress. But behind the headlines and rebrands, you’v…

Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration announced a formal reconsideration of the critical "Endangerment Finding," the 2009 determination that greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO₂)…

Portland Stone (Adobe). The Portland Cement Association (PCA) recently rebranded itself as the American Cement Association (ACA). When I heard this news, it got me thinking—has PCA changed its name before, and what was the original reason behind it…

The concrete world is buzzing right now. New mix designs, new ways to reduce cement use, and a lot of noise about “green” concrete and low-carbon alternatives. Recently on the Concrete Logic Podcast, I had the chance to sit down with John Guynn from…

If you’ve ever worked with concrete, you know that things don’t always go as planned. Whether it’s cracks appearing out of nowhere or floors that won’t stay level, concrete can be a tricky material. But what if I told you that many of the problems y…

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,…

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-carbon material…

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 captivate th…

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…

In today’s fast-paced industrial landscape, the transformation of the British steel industry provides a compelling case study with significant implications for the U.S. cement industry. By understanding the forces driving these changes, industry pro…

The recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to overturn the Chevron deference has sent ripples through various industries, including the concrete sector. This landmark ruling, which shifts the power of interpreting ambiguo…

Introduction Concrete, a ubiquitous construction material, derives its strength and durability from a controlled curing process that involves hydration reactions between cement and water. Temperature plays a crucial role in this process, affecting …