Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • July 16, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 25 OTHER VOICES Nor'easters underscore need for greenhouse gas action By Ole Hoefelmann N ew England is no stranger to cold winters or snowstorms, but even the most seasoned residents of the Northeast would be hard- pressed to remember a series of winter storms like this year brought. While the issue of greenhouse gases contributing to these kinds of erratic weather phenomena have become something of a political football, sci- ence tells us that it's happening and we need to take action. Jennifer Francis, a research professor in the department of marine and coast- al sciences at Rutgers University, re- cently wrote about how climate change is leading to more extreme weather, including the recent Northeast win- ter storms. She predicted that weather patterns will only continue to get more er- ratic in the area (and globally) unless we finally get serious about addressing issues like greenhouse gas emissions. So what can we do? Fortunately, alternative fuels are finally beginning to gather momentum as a viable option compared with fossil fuels — and to con- tinue that trend, Air Liquide is excited to announce that we are collaborating with Toyota to open the first of 12 hydrogen fueling stations in the Northeast, includ- ing one right here in Hartford. This network of hydrogen fueling stations will span approximately 300 miles across five states, supporting the introduction of fuel cell electric ve- hicles (FCEVs) throughout the region. Why FCEVs? For equal distance trav- eled, these hydrogen cars allow for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent compared with a tradi- tional internal combustion vehicle. It's a big step toward greener mobility. The stations we're designing and installing are capable of fueling a hydrogen-powered vehicle in just three to five minutes — comparable to the time it takes to fill an internal combus- tion engine, and much shorter than the 60 minutes it takes to charge a plug-in electric vehicle. This shorter fuel time helps bring the convenience of alterna- tive fuels in line with gas and diesel. Put simply, that translates to an easier choice for Hartford residents to get around without contributing to climate change. Since FCEVs enjoy a 300-mile range before refuelling, our network of public fueling stations at locations across the region will help finally make clean transportation convenient for real people in their day-to-day lives. As we continue to add more stations, hydrogen will continue to advance in practicality. You may be wondering where all the hydrogen will come from to power these stations. Is it sustainable? Hydrogen is a naturally occurring resource that can be produced from a range of energy sources, including from water using electricity from wind turbines, solar power or other renewable sources. We've made a com- mitment at Air Liquide to produce at least 50 percent of all hydrogen neces- sary for energy applications through carbon-free processes by 2020. There are already over 5,500 hydro- gen-powered electric cars on the road, and that number should more than double this year, which already repre- sents a significant increase compared to just a couple of years ago. It perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise that people are expected to welcome a safe, convenient transportation alternative that helps reduce pollution and lessen dependence on polluting fuels. Here in the Northeast, we can prove to the rest of the country — and to the world — that hydrogen represents a smart and convenient solution to the challenge of clean transportation. The availability of FCEVs and hydrogen fuel stations represent an excellent oppor- tunity for Hartford residents to take meaningful action to reverse climate change. Ole Hoefelmann is CEO of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC and vice president, Americas at Air Liquide Advanced Business and Technologies. HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM POLL LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULT: Can CT realistically eliminate the income tax and produce a balanced budget? NEXT WEEK'S POLL: Will you watch professional soccer at Dillon Stadium? To vote, go online to hartfordbusiness.com BIZ BOOKS Companies must commit to worker education programs By Jim Pawlak "Learning to Succeed: Rethinking Corpo- rate Education in a World of Unrelenting Change" by Jason Wingard (Thomas Nelson, $24.95). Decades ago, management guru W. Edwards Deming wrote: "Long-term commitment to new learning and new philosophy is required of any manage- ment that seeks transformation." Given that training budgets are still among the first cuts when companies experience financial difficulties, it's apparent that many C-level execs don't believe that continuous learning creates success. Wingard, formerly the managing di- rector and chief learning officer of Gold- man Sachs, drives home Deming's point again: "Well-planned and administered (education) programs will contribute to return on investment in nearly every sector of a company." His "continuous integration of learning and strategy" (CILS) model makes learning part of strategic planning. First, CILS identifies what needs to be learned to effectively execute the strategic plan. Next, it uses 4Cs — communi- cation, collabora- tion, critical think- ing and creativity — as tactics to develop a thought leadership and in- sight framework for managers and their subordinates. The "organiza- tion" weighs in on what it needs to succeed. Group input crystalizes and shares the information and experienc- es of "a tapestry of topics," including management and operations. Part of the process involves asking employees for input on how what they learned from the group can affect their roles. Overall, the group-think provides a framework for organizing learning around various topics. Once identified, information can be distributed for- mally and informally to those involved. Wingard points out that the CILS process involvement isn't just for large firms. Group meetings can be coffee- and-donuts discussions. Information can be provided to employees by dis- seminating information from trade publications and trade associations. 65% No 35% Yes READER COMMENTS: "Yes, we need to be more irresponsible. Let's do this by buying 50-year bonds so we can continue kicking the can down the road some more. Then when problems begin to rise just blame the other party and then go for 100-year bonds." "Nothing is impossible." "Yes, to remain competitive with other states." Ole Hoefelmann Jim Pawlak Book Review

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