environment Tag

The Role of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling in Sustainability

26 Jul 2023, Posted by Andrew Jefferis in All Posts, Blog Posts

Just over a month ago, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $2 million investment in Lithium-ion battery recycling. You can find these batteries in almost anything that is rechargeable – power tools, phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and more. But what makes recycling them such a big deal and, according…

21st Century Mining and the Renewable Energy Transition

05 Jul 2023, Posted by Andrew Jefferis in All Posts, Blog Posts

Much of the developed world is undergoing an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable and technology-based natural energy sources. To date, 96 countries representing almost 80 percent of carbon emissions have made net-zero pledges. Besides a massive investment in renewable energy sources and an increase in overall power production,…

Aii Asks a Yellowstone Environmental Educator

11 May 2023, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Have you ever been to Yellowstone National Park? How are national parks and infrastructure related? What can we learn about climate and conservation? If any of these questions intrigue you, check out our latest interview with an environmental educator. Aii sat down with Gabriel Ford to learn more about the…

What is Decarbonization?

11 May 2023, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

In the United States, the conversation around decarbonization generally centers around the same handful of options. In large part, the policy approaches include tax, subsidy, grants, or favorable regulatory emphasis. The technological and industrial tools for decarbonization often include wind and solar as the popular energy generators, batteries as the…

Safer Digging Part 3: Keep it in Park

10 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

This blog series is laser-focused on innovative technology that can improve the damage prevention process. While this particular series only discusses one technology – Electronic white-lining (EWL)– we have covered its manifold benefits, including public safety, damage reduction, and communications value. Electronic white-lining has multiple advantages, but here we focus…

Domestic Uranium Supply Needed As Supply Chain Problems Persist

21 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

The current energy crisis has seen gasoline prices rise to all-time highs across the country. Around the world, many countries’ ability to meet their energy needs through imports has also been called into question as markets respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine and environmental regulations and policy priorities limiting exploration,…

Self-Driving into the Future

19 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

While some recent conversations about transportation in the U.S. are relatively simple – like the supply and demand for oil – others are more nuanced and complex. America is a car-dependent country, with more than 90% of households estimated to have access to a vehicle. But with the changing climate…

Push Toward Renewables Requires Mining and Fossil Fuels

23 Feb 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The current push to electrify the U.S. transportation sector along with homes and businesses means that massive amounts of raw material will be needed to build out a more robust and smarter grid, deploy new renewable technology, and facilitate power storage. This electrified future that many long for will require…

A Sustainable Model

26 Jan 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Thriving society requires energy. The source of that energy can come from an array of natural resources and technological processes to convert light, heat, and motion into power. Energy development must, of course, be reconciled with environmental protection to minimize negative externalities. As innovators and public officials seek a sustainable…

Carbon Offsets Enable Companies to Invest in the Environment

09 Aug 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Now more than ever, efforts to combat climate change are becoming universal. Individuals, corporations, and governments are looking for ways to consume more sustainably, reduce their natural resource usage, and better steward the environment. With everyone looking for ways to aid in the fight for climate equilibrium, a key part…

Planting Trees by the Millions

26 Jul 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The past decade has seen the birth of many tree-planting projects. Countries, companies, and cohorts have committed to planting millions, billions, and even one trillion trees by certain short-term dates. These efforts are growing in popularity and may succeed in achieving multiple objectives, including combatting the effects of deforestation, contributing…

Heat Waves Cost to Infrastructure Add Up for State Governments

16 Jul 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The Pacific Northwest faced several record-breaking days of sweltering weather during the first week of July. Temperatures in Portland, Oregon reached 116 F, while Lytton, British Columbia broke the Canadian record for highest recorded temperature at 121 F. These heat waves have ramifications for both residents and the underlying infrastructure…

Are Pipelines Safe?

02 Mar 2021, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  o one could be blamed for having the wrong impression of pipelines. Views tend to align with politics, and media coverage often casts these silent transport methods in one extreme light or another. The facts about pipelines are quite revealing, but there is a lot of data to discuss…

What is Fuel Dumping and Why Does it Happen?

14 Feb 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

You are enjoying your day, looking up at the shapes in the clouds when all of a sudden, a pilot far above you releases thousands of gallons of jet fuel. It is jarring, confusing, and seemingly illegal, but it is an accepted practice known as fuel dumping. The relatively uncommon…