My new neighbor, Wal-Mart, has already affected something on me, and if they can soften up my kinda rigidity, then they're doing something right. I wrote about my Wal-Mart miniphany (mini epiphany) this week in the Georgia Political Digest. Read full op/ed here.
From the CNN/Money story:
More than 5 million vehicles on U.S. roads today can run on ethanol - a renewable fuel that comes from corn - as well as gasoline. General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler recently announced plans to double their annual production of so-called flex fuel vehicles to two million cars and trucks by 2010.
tags: Wal-Mart, ethanol, Georgia, gas, gas prices, cheap, corn futures, business
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4 comments:
Grayson, Tania steered me towards your article in the Georgia Political Digest. I'm her husband. I'm also intimately familiar with the Wal-Mart on Howell Mill Road, as my company, Selig Enterprises Inc., is the developer, and I'm responsible for overseeing its construction. As you've noted, Wal-Mart has taken huge steps to accomodate the community. Almost every concession we have asked them to make they have made. From an economic standpoint, they really were in the drivers seat in terms of the success of this development and could have easily taken a love it or leave it approach. We're very appreciative of your neighborhood's willingness not to pre-judge Wal-Mart and to give them a chance to showcase their new team approach to planning their stores. I think we are both witnessing the beginning of a new corporate philosophy at Wal-Mart that will really challenge some the stereotypes that currently exist. We expect the development to be a huge success and to be a valuable addition to the area. As you may be aware already, Wal-Mart's Grand Opening is slated for October 18. Also, in case you don't already know, our development will also have Ross, T.J. Maxx, Ulta Salon & Cosmetics, Office Depot, PetsMart, Lane Bryant, Starbucks, America's Best Eyeglasses and Contacts, Kaysons Grille, and several other retail and restaurant tenants. If there are ever any issues with our development you need addressed, please do not hesitate to let me know.
eh - dont be so quick to jump on the ethanol bandwagon. its insanely expensive to refine ethanol from corn and the process creates about as much problems for the atosphere as the emissions from the gasoline that come from cars.
about the best thing about ethanol is it doesn't come from russia, venezuela, the middle east or anywhere more unstable than iowa.
Interesting. BTW, my blogging bud in Minnesota gave me a tip the other day, something to watch for.
She says, you know all this big push all of a sudden for ethanol plants in the Midwest? Now they are getting taken more seriously. Anybody wonder why?
She said check out the ownership of the biggest plants, and maybe you'll find a clue.
Turns out some of the biggest ethanol producers in the Midwest happen to be based in the Mideast. I have no documentation on this... it's just what I'm hearing. She's checking on it now, and I'm watching her blog.
Yeah, the Kool Aid is very refreshing! Think I'll have me another glass.
I know all that about Wal-Mart. And no, it's not good. It's all bad. But here in an urban setting, all the old rules they've long operated by will no longer apply.
So it will be interesting to watch how this plays out. If you don't jump-in to affect change when and where you can, then, well, the opportunity is gone. Now's the time for Wal-Mart to answer to this community. I for one feel they will simply have to, in this very unique case.
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