WASHINGTON, D.C. — Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, released the following statement after news today that the Trump administration would deliver $12 billion in relief to American farmers.

“Today’s announcement is welcome news to farm families. We applaud President Trump and his administration for being responsive to the needs of American farmers and our nation’s rural communities,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.

“This move builds on the Trump administration’s long-standing commitment to American agriculture, including the President’s support for expanding access to higher biofuel blends like E15 and his administration’s embrace of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard. Taken together, these efforts serve as powerful economic drivers for rural America.”

The post Growth Energy Applauds Trump Administration’s Support for America’s Farmers appeared first on Growth Energy.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, called on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today to update the way the agency assesses the environmental impact of crop-based biofuels like ethanol.

“We were greatly encouraged when California finally approved E15 for use earlier this year,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Recognizing the environmental benefits of crop-based biofuels and setting carbon reduction policy that allows ethanol to compete on a level playing field is the next critical step. American ethanol producers and their farm partners are constantly innovating to increase their efficiency and lower their carbon intensity. To maximize the benefits ethanol can deliver to California consumers, CARB must stop penalizing today’s biofuel producers based on yesterday’s data.”

In submitted comments, Growth Energy noted that CARB unfairly penalizes crop-based biofuels by relying on environmental assumptions that are almost a decade old. In particular, the way that CARB assigns an exaggerated value for land use change (LUC) to crop-based biofuels is especially damaging and undermines the ability of biofuels like ethanol to qualify and compete in the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS).

Read the full comments here.

The post Growth Energy Calls on CARB to Update Old, Inaccurate Assumptions about Ethanol’s Environmental Impact appeared first on Growth Energy.

Hey everybody,

TL;DR: It is Volts’ fifth birthday! I would like to continue for five more years, but the only way I can do that is if more people sign up for a paid subscription. If you haven’t done that yet, and you value what I do here, please chip in. It’s about the cost of a nice latte per month, whereas my gratitude is immeasurable.

And now, a few quick reflections, if you will indulge me.

I launched Volts five years ago, and I gotta say, I dig it.

When I launched it, I had been writing for Vox for five years — a general interest publication, which meant a certain sort of writing. I wanted to do something a little deeper and more targeted, and above all, more useful to people on the front lines. There is so much good work going on that gets so little attention in our stupid, stupid attention economy.

I wanted to bring the good work out, put a spotlight on it, so that people can see what’s happening, see what sparks their own imaginations, and figure out how they can get involved.

It has gone better than I possibly could have anticipated. The pivot from writing to podcasting was not something I would have chosen, but given the circumstances, it has been an absolute feast. I’m privileged to talk to fascinating, smart, ambitious, socially-minded, good-hearted people every week. Turns out there are lots of them!

I have heard from people who have passed state legislation based on Volts pods, people who have chosen or changed academic paths, chosen or changed careers, raised money, won awards, or simply bought heat pumps for their homes.

It really seems like it’s working, like Volts is useful for people! That is gratifying to me beyond my ability to express.

That said, the Volts business plan is something of a disaster. I don’t have any sponsors. I don’t take advertisements. I don’t consult. I have no income other than the kind souls who agree to pay me to do this through the newsletter.

Unlike a written post, which is free to produce, it costs me money to record, produce, edit, and release a podcast, which I regularly do twice a week. On a busy month it’s close to $10K in expenses. It takes a lot of $6 monthly subscriptions to compensate for that, much less to pay for my groceries.

Share

As I’ve said before, a lot of this is just due to my Gen X orneriness: I don’t want anyone telling me what to do, and I don’t want to sell out. And beyond that, I just want to do the work. I like doing the work; I hate doing the rest of it. The whole point of launching Volts was to focus on the work and try to avoid the rest of it.

But I’m coming around to the unavoidable conclusion that at least some of the rest of it needs doing. At least if I want Volts to thrive in the long term. Which I do!

So that’s something I am going to be thinking about this year: how to professionalize a bit, like a real grownup. Do more for paid subscribers. Do more promotion and marketing. Maybe hire someone to write a fundraising email less halfass than this one. Maybe even see about ads.

In the meantime, you can help me continue to be useful:

• Sign up for a paid subscription yourself.

• Buy one for someone else, as a holiday gift!

• Tell your friends about Volts — there is no substitute for word-of-mouth.

• Give Volts a good review on Apple Podcasts or the platform of your choice. It helps.

If this earnest post didn’t do it for you, stay tuned for later this month, when I’ll have a fun, data-rich post on Volts history to share!

In the meantime, thank you for subscribing, thank you for reading, and thank you for caring about decarbonization.

Higher average daily wholesale electricity prices between January and November 2025 may be improving the operational competitiveness of some natural gas- and coal-fired generators in the PJM Interconnection compared with the same period in 2024. PJM is the largest wholesale electricity market in the United States. The spark and dark spreads, common metrics for estimating the profitability of natural gas- and coal-fired electric generators, have both increased over the past two years.

Researchers discovered that a tiny structural feature of the enzyme GPX4 helps keep neurons safe. A rare mutation removes this protection, allowing harmful molecules to damage cell membranes and trigger early dementia. Mouse and cell studies showed changes resembling Alzheimer’s. Early tests to slow this damage give scientists new directions to explore.

A remarkably clean gravitational-wave detection has confirmed long-standing predictions about black holes, including Hawking’s area theorem and Einstein’s ringdown behavior. The findings also provide the strongest support yet that real black holes follow the Kerr model.

Deep-brain recordings showed that Mounjaro and Zepbound briefly shut down the craving circuits linked to food noise in a patient with severe obesity. Her obsessive thoughts about food disappeared as the medication quieted the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward hub.

Researchers uncovered rare azurite traces on a Final Paleolithic artifact, overturning assumptions that early Europeans used only red and black pigments. The find suggests ancient people possessed deeper knowledge of minerals and colors than believed. It also hints at vanished forms of decoration or artistic practices. The discovery opens new avenues for exploring identity and symbolism in Ice Age cultures.

Ancient pterosaurs may have taken to the skies far earlier and more explosively than birds, evolving flight at their very origin despite having relatively small brains. Using advanced CT imaging, scientists reconstructed the brain cavities of pterosaur fossils and their close relatives, uncovering surprising clues—such as enlarged optic lobes—that hint at a rapid leap into powered flight. Their findings contrast sharply with the slow, stepwise evolution seen in birds, whose brains expanded over time to support flying.

Most people worldwide aren’t getting enough omega-3, leaving a major gap between scientific recommendations and daily diets. Researchers emphasize the critical role of EPA and DHA across all life stages and point out that food alone often can’t meet needs. The review calls for clearer global guidelines and easier access to sustainable omega-3 sources. It also highlights the challenges different populations face in reaching healthy intake levels.

Scientists have confirmed that Nanotyrannus was a mature species, not a young T. rex. A microscopic look at its hyoid bone provided the key evidence, matching growth signals seen in known T. rex specimens. This discovery suggests a richer, more competitive tyrannosaur ecosystem than previously believed. It also highlights how museum fossils and cutting-edge analysis can rewrite prehistoric history.

Using less ipilimumab appears to make melanoma immunotherapy both safer and more effective, with dramatically better response and survival outcomes. The findings suggest that reducing side effects may be the key to maximizing the benefits of these powerful treatments.

Researchers revealed that the microbial metabolite TMA can directly block the immune protein IRAK4, reducing inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity. The molecule counteracts damage caused by high-fat diets and even protects mice from sepsis. Since IRAK4 is a known drug target, this pathway could inspire new diabetes therapies. The study highlights how gut microbes and nutrition can work together to support metabolic health.

Researchers have built a fully implantable device that sends light-based messages directly to the brain. Mice learned to interpret these artificial patterns as meaningful signals, even without touch, sight, or sound. The system uses up to 64 micro-LEDs to create complex neural patterns that resemble natural sensory activity. It could pave the way for next-generation prosthetics and new therapies.

High-resolution imaging has revealed the internal layout of chromatin condensates, showing how DNA fibers fold and interact within these droplet-like structures. The findings connect molecular architecture to the broader behaviors of these droplets in cells.

A large Mayo Clinic study shows that current guidelines fail to detect nearly 90% of people with familial hypercholesterolemia, a common inherited cause of dangerously high cholesterol. Many affected individuals already had early heart disease but never met testing criteria. Routine DNA screening could dramatically expand detection and prevention. The research underscores the need for genomics-driven healthcare.

Scientists found that kale’s prized nutrients are hard for the body to absorb unless they’re eaten with oil. Cooking doesn’t improve absorption, but adding oil-based dressings—or even more advanced nanoemulsion sauces—does. These combinations dramatically increase access to kale’s carotenoids. The research could inspire new, healthier dressings designed to supercharge everyday vegetables.

A newly analyzed set of climate data points to a major volcanic eruption that may have played a key role in the Black Death’s arrival. Cooling and crop failures across Europe pushed Italian states to bring in grain from the Black Sea. Those shipments may have carried plague-infected fleas. The study ties together tree rings, ice cores, and historical writings to reframe how the pandemic began.

XRISM’s high-precision X-ray data revealed unusually strong signatures of chlorine and potassium inside the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. These levels are far higher than theoretical models predicted, showing that supernovae can be major sources of these life-critical elements. Researchers believe powerful mixing deep inside massive stars is responsible for the unexpected boost. The findings reshape our understanding of how the building blocks of planets and life were created.