St. Louis Takes the Lead in Establishing a New Pipeline of Rail Sites
Good morning! Happy National Siblings Day, dear readers! Today we celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters. Grab your sibling, or your favorite coworker, and let's dive into today's edition of our daily supply chain newsletter. ☕️
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The St. Louis area is streamlining its efforts to create rail-accessible sites across the bi-state region, which would save time and draw attention to rail sites with usable acreage. On both sides of the Mississippi River, many brokers, development organizations, and business leaders are identifying prime industrial real estate that is rail-accessible in the region. While large companies such as BNSF or Union Pacific already provide routes near these new railways, these new rail-served sites would aid economic development marketing efforts. St. Louis is already known as one of the largest rail hubs in the country, and these steps will help take advantage of projected growth.
Check out the featured article from AJOT to read about what these rail-served sites mean for the future of freight and St. Louis. Will they boost rail accessibility and help with the economic growth that is so badly needed? Will all these 11 zones be used to create these railways?
Featured Article:
St. Louis Regional Freightway leads collaborative effort to create new pipeline of rail-served, developer-ready sites for STL region | AJOT
“The St. Louis region is streamlining the site selection process for rail-accessible sites across the bi-state area.”
Fuel Tech & Network Association ♻️
Apple's Decarbonization Efforts Attract More Participants
Apple has announced that more suppliers have promised to use carbon-conscious energy. This announcement came after Apple stated that its iPhone and computers will be entirely carbon-neutral by 2030. Over 250 suppliers have pledged to support 13.7 gigawatts of energy that is entirely renewable, which is more than a 30% increase from the previous year. Over 85% of Apple's direct manufacturing spending relies on vendor involvement. Apple is committed to using 100% renewable energy across its global operations, including its offices, retail stores, data centers, and manufacturing facilities.
The company has made significant investments in renewable energy projects and has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint and combat climate change. Apple has invested in a range of renewable energy projects around the world, including solar and wind farms, and has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) to ensure a reliable supply of renewable energy for its operations. Apple has built several large-scale solar and wind projects, including a 1,300-acre solar farm in California, and has developed innovative renewable energy technologies, such as a biogas fuel cell system that converts waste into electricity. Apple has also incorporated energy-efficient design features into its products, such as low-power processors and OLED displays, to reduce their energy consumption and environmental impact. Through these efforts, Apple has made significant progress toward its goal of using 100% renewable energy across its operations. As of 2021, the company reported that 96% of its facilities were powered by renewable energy, and it continues to work toward achieving its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Labor Issues & Economics 🇺🇸
American workforce grows with the addition of 236,000 jobs
Despite the nine interest rate hikes imposed by the Federal Reserve over the last year, American employers have added over 236,000 new jobs. Recently, the unemployment rate fell from 3.5% to 3.4%, which is a record 53-year low. It was also found that hourly wages increased by 0.3% from February to March, which is more than the 0.2% rise from January to February. Another positive development is that in March, over 480,000 Americans began looking for work, which may ease inflation pressures. There are several reasons why adding more jobs is good for America, including social and economic factors.
More jobs mean more people are employed and earning income, which leads to increased consumer spending and drives economic growth. More jobs also mean a lower unemployment rate, which is beneficial for individuals and families who depend on employment for their livelihoods. It also means fewer people living in poverty, as employment provides a path out of poverty and helps individuals and families achieve financial stability. More jobs mean more people can afford a better standard of living, with access to necessities like food, housing, and healthcare. When more people are employed, crime rates tend to decrease, and communities become more stable and prosperous.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.