Catalyst Environmental Solutions was recently featured in the Environmental Business Journal's 2026 Environmental Industry Outlook, the industry's leading annual assessment of market direction and strategy.
In a wide-ranging Q&A, Catalyst President Chip Blankenhorn shared how the firm has "hit the ground running" in 2026, opening the year with robust real-time project work and a strong backlog that has only grown busier as the year has progressed.
The discussion highlighted the breadth of Catalyst's work across both the public and private sectors. On the public side, the firm continues to support state, regional, and local sustainability initiatives — including solid waste minimization and recycling programs, invasive species monitoring and management, and water reclamation and reuse programs — partnering with clients to turn newly promulgated policies into implementable projects and practices. In the private sector, Catalyst is seeing significant growth in renewable energy and brownfield redevelopment, supported by several new hires this year.
Blankenhorn also addressed how the firm is navigating an evolving federal policy environment, noting that recent changes have shaped the approach to delivering projects rather than diminishing investment in them. He pointed to a stable pipeline of NEPA-related work, a robust portfolio of geothermal, solar, and battery storage projects, and the firm's measured, policy-guided approach to integrating AI into project delivery — always in service of complementing, never replacing, the expertise of Catalyst's practitioners.
Reflecting on the firm's pricing and client relationships, Blankenhorn emphasized a balanced, transparent approach to shared risk and a deep appreciation for the long-standing trust of Catalyst's clients.
We thank the Environmental Business Journal for the opportunity to share our perspective on a dynamic and rewarding year ahead.
Source: Environmental Business Journal, Volume 39 Numbers 7/8: Q3 2026: EBJ Environmental Industry Outlook 2026
