By Victor Gillam - https://pixels.com/featured/monroe-doctrine-1896-granger.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82247860 I read an article from Doomberg, one of my favorite geopolitical writers, and it got me thinki…
Back in 2011, the cement industry told us portland-limestone cement (PLC) was no risk. The updated State of the Art Report 2024 walks that back. Now it admits PLC can have higher carbonation, chloride ingress, and admixture sensitivity—but don…
I don’t spend my days at the country club or hanging out in boardrooms. I’m a business development guy in concrete construction. That means I’m chasing projects, knocking on doors, and keeping our name out there. If I end up on a g…
The Department of Energy just released a report that probably isn’t getting the attention it deserves: A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate (July 2025). It was written by a group of respected scientists&…
Cement plant at Lime, Oregon (Credit: Middlebury College) The EPA is trying to roll back the 2009 Endangerment Finding for motor vehicles. I haven’t heard anyone else say it, but I think there’s a chance that move could spill over into …
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…
The U.S. just took a big swing in the fight for supply chain independence. Through a $400 million investment, the Department of Defense became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, the only company mining rare earth elements in the Unite…
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 finall…
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'r…
If you want to understand why energy is getting more expensive—and why industrial growth feels like it’s dragging through wet concrete—look at Colorado. What was once a solid energy-producing state has quietly become a case study …
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 p…
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 …
We won’t say, "We told you so," but let’s just say this wasn’t exactly a surprise. President Trump is about to—or may have already—signed an executive order that could reshape the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. Th…
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan imposed a significant 100% tariff on selected Japanese electronics. At the time, this move was widely seen as bold and controversial. Understanding the rationale behind this action provides insight into the c…
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…
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…
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 …
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…
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, indust…
Welcome to the Land of the Long White Cloud New Zealand, the picturesque land known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, has a population of about five million people. This island nation has long been celebrated for its green energy ini…
(https://www.holcim.us/ecopact) The Federal Highway Administration recently announced an $800 million initiative through the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program. This program aims to reimburse road builders for using products that c…