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.

A lot has been said about electric and hybrid cars and airlines are trying to find ways to reduce their carbon footprints but it doesn’t seem like there has been a lot said lately about trains. Now, it appears China is set on becoming a world leader in rail transportation. If their plan works, it should reduce the need for short commuter flights in China. But the question remains, is it efficient use of money to reduce carbon emissions? How much time and effort will it take to build the proper rail lines to make a difference? What do you think?

This article certainly raised my eyebrows. I have written a couple of times about Tesla and their electric cars. Now Diamler enters the picture in a very shrewd move. In one fell swoop, Diamler may have leap-frogged all the other major car manufacturers, all while keeping it’s luxury auto image intact. This certainly seems to be a win-win for both these companies. I predicted earlier that Tesla may very well turn the US automotive world on its ear – this move could be the beginning of the tidal wave.

I neither approve nor disapprove of the appointment of David Hayes for a position in the Interior Department, however, I do disapprove of this. It seems so juvenile to block an appointment simply as retribution for some other action that was taken. Now, if the Republicans said they were blocking the appointment based on Mr. Hayes’ past record, I could respect that. This “playground” behavior (which has been played pretty equally by both sides) is what has so many of us sick and tired of politicians in general.

Pacific Steel & Recycling is proud to announce that we finally have our automobile drain rack for the proper evacuation of fuel, oil, other fluids, and CFCs from scrap vehicles. We no longer have to rely on another company to do those things before we are ready to process a vehicle. It’s only our first so it will be awhile before all of our recycling facilities have one but this is a great day for us. It provides us with a lot more control over the environmental concerns connected with recycling cars.