The Risk of China’s Nitrocellulose Advantage – And What the US Defense Industrial Base Can Do About It
May 22, 2024Protracted conflict, as seen in today’s kinetic battlefields, demands sustained munition production. The US defense industrial base – and its allied peers – need to demonstrate to those in Beijing, Tehran, and Moscow that the United States can compete in production and re-supply.
The US Aluminum Production Challenge and How to Fix It
March 30, 2023Without action to stabilize the aluminum industry, the United States is at risk of increasing its reliance on China, Russia and the UAE for critical infrastructures, military needs, and clean technologies. And without a robust energy supply, the US will not be able to stabilize the aluminum sector.
What the Market Hasn’t Realized about Global Soybean Supply
March 20, 2023Argentina is the world’s fourth largest producer of soybeans and largest exporter of soybean products. But historic drought in the country is devastating its production, with serious consequences for global supply. And those consequences are not currently being priced into markets, exacerbating the problem.
The US is Vulnerable in Critical Minerals. But There Is a Solution.
February 26, 2023The US is at least 50 percent import dependent for 26 out of the 32 minerals that the 2022 US Geological Survey publishes data on, or 81.25 percent. Of those, China is the top source of US imports for 11, or 42.3 percent. Gallium underscores how severe this dynamic is.
Can the Modern Agricultural Industry Increase the Carrying Capacity of the Planet?
February 1, 2023Trends point to real risk of global protein shortage. But the good news: There is potential to increase the carrying capacity of the planet. The potential boons of doing so just have to be made clear. Takeaways from the Archer Daniels Midland's earnings call.
America’s Military Readiness Depends on Reshoring Rare Earth Metals
January 26, 2023This is the time for the United States to reshore its critical manufacturing. Thanks to American innovation, we have new, cost-effective manufacturing and processing methods that are environmentally sustainable and safe for workers. I am proud to be part of this solution as a co-founder of Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts-based mineral processing startup.
We Can’t Build a Clean Economy Without Investment in Critical Minerals
January 5, 2023Accelerated production of copper, and other critical minerals, is necessary to make clean energy options economically viable. Otherwise, the gap between supply and demand will fuel further price increases on all critical minerals – which will make the energy transition more expensive and less competitive.
Geothermal Energy Can Help Reduce Reliance on Imported Fossil Fuels
November 22, 2022America’s dependence on foreign oil is clearly an increasing security and economic issue. The solution cannot simply be domestic fossil fuel production. Greater focus on renewable energy is necessary, but solar and wind energy both face practical challenges. A third alternative is right beneath our feet: Geothermal ground source energy.
The US Is Vulnerable in Critical Minerals. But There Is a Solution.
October 24, 2022The US is at least 50 percent import dependent for 26 out of the 32 minerals that the 2022 US Geological Survey publishes data on, or 81.25 percent. Of those, China is the top source of US imports for 11, or 42.3 percent. Gallium underscores how severe this dynamic is.
The UK’s New Critical Minerals Strategy Represents a Comeback for Industrial Policy
July 28, 2022The UK government is now demonstrating that it is ready to move, and in lockstep with allies, in setting out the steps to maximize what the UK produces across the value chain and to reduce strategic dependence on China.
A Secure Industrial Strategy Starts at the Upstream
July 26, 2022In everything from batteries to solar panels, the energy sources of tomorrow depend on inputs from China. The good news is that it it's not too late. The US, its allies, and its partners can still compete. But they will have to start with the upstream.
We Can’t Build a Clean Economy without Investment in Critical Minerals
June 23, 2022Accelerated production of copper, and other critical minerals, is necessary to make clean energy options economically viable. Otherwise, the gap between supply and demand will fuel further price increases on all critical minerals – which will make the energy transition more expensive and less competitive.
How Washington Can Resolve the Energy Crisis — for Today, and Tomorrow
May 23, 2022If Secretary Granholm wants more energy production, she should orient her relationship to industry around reshaping incentives to align tomorrow’s demand with today’s supply. She should make clear that incentives for increased production will continue next month, and the months after.
It’s Not Too Late for Washington to Learn Supply and Demand
April 1, 2022Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that the US cannot afford to depend on geopolitical adversaries for critical factors. Instead, the US should be investing in domestic production that can not only prop up national resilience, but also that of allies and partners.
When Promises Aren’t Enough: An LNG Roadmap
March 25, 2022Producing things is difficult and Washington has been out of the game for some time. But producing things is also possible. And Washington needs to get back into the game, yesterday. We can start with LNG -- and actually help Europe in the process.
