WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, issued the following statement from CEO Emily Skor today in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) announcement of a Section 301 investigation into China’s implementation of its commitments under the Phase One Agreement:

“The U.S. cannot stand by while its trading partners fail to live up to their commitments, particularly when farmers and rural communities across the country are facing a period of significant economic challenges. We applaud USTR for taking a closer look at China’s failure to fully deliver on its Phase One commitments. While China briefly resumed imports of U.S. ethanol immediately following the agreement, those purchases represented baseline trade levels rather meaningful increases and have since dissipated—they did not reflect the sustained market access that American producers were promised.

“For years, China’s tariffs and non-tariff barriers have prevented U.S. ethanol producers from competing in one of the world’s fastest-growing fuel markets. Growth Energy raised these concerns in our March submission to USTR regarding unfair trade practices, and we welcome USTR’s renewed focus on holding China accountable.

“Ensuring fair and reciprocal access to global markets is essential to American energy dominance, and to the strength of America’s farm economy and rural communities. We look forward to continuing to work with USTR and the Administration to restore full and fair access for U.S. biofuels in international markets.”

Learn more about the USTR investigation here.

 

The post Growth Energy Applauds USTR Investigation into China’s Implementation of the Phase One Trade Agreement appeared first on Growth Energy.

David’s Notes

1.🌴I’m going back to Cali! The state’s YIMBYs are still buzzing from Gavin Newsom signing SB79, a hugely significant bill that, among other things, allows denser housing near transit across the state. At this November 6 Canary Live event, I will sit down with housing policy advocate and cleantech investor Kim-Mai Cutler to talk about SB79 and more. As always, we’ve set aside a handful of free tickets for paid Volts subscribers. Register your interest here.

2. 🍖I just got back from Spain! I spent ten days in Madrid, Granada, and Cordoba with Mrs. Volts and the oldest boy, who is doing a semester abroad there. Much fun was had by all, though I remain severely jetlagged.

I wrote a thread on Bluesky about … well it turned out to be mostly about the food. Here it is, as text:

On my way home from a week in southern Spain, a few reflections. Love the walkable streets. Love the sociable culture of outdoor cafes. Love the schedule -- late (heavy) lunch, late (light) dinner, late nights, slow mornings. Love the Arab bath/spa. Love the history. But friends, I must admit... I did not like the food. Like really didn’t like it. For instance: within 48 hours of arriving I was deeply, existentially sick of ham. Like I never want to see ham again. The very word “ham” causes me to shudder. But my god it is *everywhere*, on every menu, in every dish, on every vegetable.

There’s a standard and highly limited Andalusian menu -- ham, potatoes, white bread, oily everything, f’ing croquettes -- that barely varies from restaurant to restaurant, and there are very few exceptions. Like you gotta *work* to find anything else, any other cuisine. It’s fine for a meal, maybe two, but ... again? And again? And again? It’s not just eating one cuisine all the time, it’s a very *narrow* cuisine. A relatively small handful of items. And that handful includes *no* vegetables. Like it is genuinely difficult to find a fresh vegetable. I have no idea how vegetarians survive in southern Spain. Order something called “salad” & you get ... potato & tuna salad. Order “asparagus” & you get overcooked, stringy asparagus ... covered in ham. We went to *numerous* restaurants where there literally was not a single vegetarian dish on offer.

We found a tapas place with a picture of lettuce on the menu so we eagerly ordered it and it was ... a head of romaine, quartered. Maybe a little oil drizzled on it? But that’s it. “Tomatoes” was ... a plate of sliced tomatoes. We must be the only ones who ordered it? The one reliably present vegetable was eggplant ... in tempura batter, deep fried, drizzled with honey. (Yummy, but not exactly healthy.) We eventually found a thai place, a mexican place, an italian place. None of them were particularly good, I’m sad to say. Seattle foodie culture has spoiled me.

Anyway. We had a great time, saw some absolutely amazing stuff (the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita Cathedral in Cordoba), but I couldn’t live there. Too many tourists and the food ... I’m worried I’m going to have nightmares about ham.

Oh I wanted to mention one other thing that I loved: plazas! They’re not unique to Spain, obviously -- in fact they’re common in almost all cities outside North America. But I find every single one a pure joy. People are sitting, standing around, kicking soccer balls, listening to music ... *living*.

Plazas! One of those things that I think is so basic to any European that it almost sounds weird to call it out and celebrate it ... but at the same time is almost entirely alien to most Americans. Outdoor living rooms, basically. I can’t tell you what a good feeling they give me. The thing is, to work, to be “activated” in the jargon, a plaza has to be accessible by foot, by lots of people. We’ve all seen those big, austere, empty urban plazas (Atlanta, where I am, has several) in US cities. They don’t work because they’re surrounded by car sewers & only accessible by car.

Our hotel in Cordoba was immediately next to a big plaza and I spent *hours* just watching people. Hundreds of people, hanging out, coming through, some in a hurry, some strolling, some old couples, some packs of youths, some kids playing soccer. People flirting, people fighting. Just ... life. In a car-dependent city, the other people you are living in a city with are just ... drivers, competing with you for road & parking space. They are theoretical, abstract, mere impediments. When you’re walking in & around plazas, they are real, concrete, with faces, with real lives. I can’t even really capture it in words but I want to say that the lack of plazas in the US -- the lack of common public spaces where you can mix, physically, with others, and experience their faces & smells & emotions & lives -- is one explanation for our deep & extensive dysfunctions. </fin>

More thoughts on the Alhambra in this thread:

3. 🔥Subscribers know that I am extremely enthusiastic about hot rocks, ie, thermal energy storage for high-temperature industrial applications. In 2023 I did an introduction to the subject, told through the story of a startup called Rondo: “Why electrifying industrial heat is such a big deal.”

I’m quite tickled to report that Rondo has reached commercial scale:

4. ⚾2025 was the year Mrs. Volts finally lured me into becoming a true diehard fan of the Seattle Mariners, just in time to watch that ludicrously charismatic team battle through a wild, dramatic postseason, reach game seven of the ACLS playoffs, and then lose, tragically, by a single run. The Mariners remain the only team in the league that’s never reached the World Series.

Why do people like sports again?

5. 💚Hey, I realize it’s been a while since I’ve done anything special for my paid subscribers, my beloveds, my dearests, to whom I owe my life and eternal gratitude. After a somewhat sleepy summer, I got slammed into high-gear busyness a few months ago and haven’t really had a chance to come up for air since. But don’t worry, I have a few things in mind for the coming month or two. We need to catch up on the “What the F is happening"?” series and I’ve got a few solo takes I need to get off my chest. Just know that I think about you paid subscribers every day, and say a quiet little prayer of gratitude.

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Since 2021, electricity demand within the Texas electricity grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has steadily increased. In the first nine months of 2025, electricity demand in ERCOT, which manages about 90% of the state's load, reached a record high compared with the same period in previous years. Over those same months, ERCOT had the fastest electricity demand growth among U.S. electricity grids between 2024 and 2025. From January through September 2025, demand for electric power in ERCOT increased 5% compared with the same period in 2024 to 372 terawatthours (TWh), 23% more than the same months in 2021. Since 2023, wind and solar generation, especially utility-scale solar, have been the fastest-growing sources of electricity in ERCOT and are increasingly meeting rising demand.

Scientists have unveiled Khankhuuluu, a new Mongolian dinosaur species that predates and closely resembles early Tyrannosaurs. With its long snout, small horns, and lean build, it represents a transitional form between swift mid-sized predators and giant apex hunters like T. rex. The find also suggests that large Tyrannosaurs first evolved in North America following an ancient migration from Asia.

ASU scientists found that people whose gut microbes make more methane extract more calories from fiber-rich foods. Methanogens help the microbiome turn fiber into energy by consuming hydrogen and producing methane. Using advanced metabolic chambers, researchers measured how diet and gut chemistry interact, showing that methane may signal efficient digestion. The work could lead to personalized diets based on individual microbiomes.

A massive genetic study found that naturally lower cholesterol is linked to a dramatically reduced risk of dementia. The research simulated the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs and showed up to an 80% lower risk for certain genetic profiles. Scientists believe high cholesterol may contribute to dementia through atherosclerosis and small blood clots. Long-term trials could confirm whether medications can replicate this protective effect.

Researchers have finally seen and measured the tiny alpha-synuclein oligomers that may ignite Parkinson’s disease. With the ultra-sensitive ASA-PD imaging method, they captured these clusters in brain tissue, finding larger and more numerous versions in patients with Parkinson’s. The discovery could mark a turning point in diagnosing and treating the disease, revealing the first visible signs long before symptoms appear.

Researchers propose that hydrogen gas from the early Universe emitted detectable radio waves influenced by dark matter. Studying these signals, especially from the Moon’s radio-quiet environment, could reveal how dark matter clumped together before the first stars formed. This approach opens a new window into the mysterious cosmic era just 100 million years after the Big Bang.

Scientists have discovered that El Niño and La Niña could become far more powerful and predictable as the planet warms. By 2050, the tropical Pacific may hit a tipping point, locking ENSO into strong, rhythmic oscillations that synchronize with other global climate patterns. The result could be intensified rainfall extremes and greater risk of “climate whiplash” across multiple continents.

Scientists have identified mutations in the CPD gene as a key cause of a rare congenital hearing loss, revealing how disruptions in arginine and nitric oxide signaling damage sensory cells in the ear. Using mouse and fruit fly models, the team showed that restoring arginine levels or using sildenafil improved cell survival and hearing function.

Researchers uncovered how lung cells decide whether to rebuild tissue or fight infection. This built-in “switch” may be the key to restoring the lungs’ natural repair ability. The discovery could lead to regenerative treatments for chronic lung diseases and faster recovery after injury.

Reptiles don’t just pee, they crystallize their waste. Researchers found that snakes and other reptiles form tiny uric acid spheres, a water-saving evolutionary trick. This discovery could illuminate how to prevent gout and kidney stones in humans.

 

Researchers in Konstanz discovered a way to manipulate materials with light by exciting magnon pairs, reshaping their magnetic “fingerprint.” This allows non-thermal control of magnetic states and data transmission at terahertz speeds. Using simple haematite crystals, the technique could enable room-temperature quantum effects. The breakthrough blurs the line between physics and magic.

In the mist-shrouded mountains of New Guinea, a Czech researcher has achieved a world-first — capturing photos, video, and data of the elusive Subalpine Woolly Rat, Mallomys istapantap. Once known only from museum specimens, this giant, shaggy rodent has been rediscovered after three decades, revealing a hidden ecosystem of biodiversity. Working alongside indigenous hunters, the expedition not only unveiled new scientific insights but also strengthened the bridge between local knowledge and modern research — offering hope for conservation in one of the planet’s last unexplored frontiers.

Cedars-Sinai researchers created “young” immune cells from human stem cells that reversed cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice. The treated animals showed better memory and healthier brain structures. The cells seemed to protect the brain indirectly, possibly through anti-aging signals in the blood. The findings suggest a new, personalized path to slowing brain aging.

Sea levels are rising faster than at any time in 4,000 years, scientists report, with China’s major coastal cities at particular risk. The rapid increase is driven by warming oceans and melting ice, while human activities like groundwater pumping make it worse. In some areas, the land itself is sinking faster than the ocean is rising. Still, researchers see progress as cities like Shanghai adopt new technologies to stabilize the ground and prepare for the future.

MIT scientists have found that an amino acid called cysteine can help the gut heal itself. In mouse studies, a cysteine-rich diet activated immune cells that release a molecule speeding up tissue repair in the small intestine. This process helped regenerate the gut lining after damage from radiation or chemotherapy.

Scientists have developed a chromium-molybdenum-silicon alloy that withstands extreme heat while remaining ductile and oxidation-resistant. It could replace nickel-based superalloys, which are limited to about 1,100°C. The new material might make turbines and engines significantly more efficient, marking a major step toward cleaner, more powerful energy systems.

MIT researchers discovered that the genome’s 3D structure doesn’t vanish during cell division as previously thought. Instead, tiny loops called microcompartments remain (and even strengthen) while chromosomes condense. These loops may explain the brief surge of gene activity that occurs during mitosis. The finding redefines how scientists understand the balance between structure and function in dividing cells.