Applause goes to Walmart for trying to do it’s part to become more environmentally responsible. The goal to cut 20 million tons from its carbon footprint is admirable. You just have to wonder what tactics it will use to accomplish this goal. It’s common knowledge that it isn’t easy for suppliers to negotiate with Walmart. In their drive to keep costs low for its customers, it constantly requests price concessions.  Again, while admirable, one has to consider what this will mean to its supplier base. What other cuts/shortcuts will suppliers have to take in order to afford to remain a supplier as they help Walmart achieve its environmental goals? Hopefully, Walmart will see it as a duty to subsidize those suppliers in making the necessary changes instead of just dropping them if they don’t make the changes because they can’t afford to.

Bloom Energy recently unveiled its new BloomBox – a solid oxide fuel cell that uses no precious metals or corrosive acids and doesn’t use combustion as it turns carbon-based or bio-based fuel into megawatts of electricity. This is certainly a marvelous breakthrough with a promising future. Those who are interested in energy solutions that don’t produce greenhouse gases should certainly sit up and take notice.