Scottsdale, AZ — Today, at the 17^th annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC), Growth Energy honored U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa with the distinguished America’s Fuel Award —an award recognizing individuals who go above and beyond in championing renewable fuels. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor commended Senator Ernst for her leadership and expressed gratitude for her commitment to advancing policies that support a bright future for American bioethanol.

“Senator Ernst has been one of the most effective biofuels champions in Congress, leading the charge to secure year-round E15, bolster the Renewable Fuel Standard, and enact programs that drive new investment in rural communities,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Always fighting for Iowa’s hardworking farmers, she has worked hard to expand opportunities for American agriculture, at home and abroad. She has been a champion in the truest sense of the word, and there is no doubt we will miss her voice in the Senate next year. We thank Senator Ernst for her unwavering commitment to homegrown fuels.”

Previous winners of the award include Dan Sanders, CEO of Front Range Energy, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Raymond E. Defenbaugh, CEO and chairman of Big River Resources LLC in West Burlington, Iowa — along with many others who have made significant contributions to the U.S. bioethanol industry.

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Growth Energy honors member excellence across the biofuels sector each year through its prestigious TOBI Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership in political advocacy, technical innovation, corporate and association leadership, communications, and global market development. These awards spotlight the individuals and organizations driving progress and advancing the industry’s impact nationwide and around the globe. Growth Energy is proud to celebrate the 2026 TOBI Award winners at its Executive Leadership Conference, set against the striking desert landscape of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“This year’s winners embody the vision, ingenuity, and determination propelling the biofuels sector forward,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Their leadership is not only strengthening rural economies but also advancing America’s energy security and reinforcing the critical role of bioethanol in our nation’s energy future.”

 

This year’s award for Membership was presented to Tom Solon. Solon has been a champion of biofuels and a leader across the industry, whether he’s in Washington, D.C. or his home state of Nebraska. Chief Executive Officer of Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW), he plays a critical role in advancing the goals of the industry and strengthening the collective voice and impact of Growth Energy.

 

 

The TOBI award for Advocacy was presented to Trevor Reuschel. A leader on Capitol Hill, in agriculture, and the biofuels industry, Reuschel has played a critical role in industry-wide negotiations and federal advocacy. As Vice President of Federal Government Relations for ADM his expertise has helped expand the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, bolster the Renewable Fuel Standard, and advance progress on year-round E15.

 

 

The TOBI award for Public Affairs was presented to Bill Couser. Couser has been an effective messenger for the industry, conveying the impact of bioethanol on rural America. As President of Couser Cattle Company, President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, and Vice President and Secretary of Lincolnway Energy, Couser brings the industry’s gains to life, earning support and winning over new allies along the way.

 

 

The 2026 TOBI award for Global Market Development was presented to Doug Berven. Berven has led the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council’s Ethanol Action Team on trade missions across the globe, using his mastery of the bioethanol and agriculture story to communicate the industry’s contributions to the global economy. As Vice President of Corporate Affairs at POET, Berven continues to be one of the industry’s strongest global advocates.

 

 

The TOBI award for Technical & Regulatory was presented to Dr. Bob McCormick. Dr. McCormick’s research has amassed over 16,000 citations and has been instrumental in advancing new ethanol markets, from mid-level blends to aviation and marine fuel. As a senior research fellow and platform leader for fuels and combustion research at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, Dr. McCormick’s expertise is critical to accelerating bioethanol adoption across all applications.

 

And finally, the Get Biofuel TOBI award was presented to Jen Franzoni. As the Public Relations Manager – Technology & Innovation at John Deere, Franzoni has been a formidable partner in executing a multi-faceted media effort to showcase renewable fuel’s impact on the ag economy, including during the NASCAR Iowa Corn 350 race weekend. Franzoni’s continued leadership drives a new level of innovation and creativity within the industry.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Today, Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, welcomed industry leaders and innovators to The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the organization’s 17th annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC). ELC gathers Growth Energy members from across the country to engage in executive-level educational programming, strategic planning, and networking within the biofuels industry. 

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor kicked off the conference with a keynote address focused on the growing demand for American biofuels in the U.S. and around the world. 

“The entire country is focused on energy — and we stand apart for the unique benefits that we alone can inject into America’s future,” said Skor. 

One of the industry’s top policy priorities, according to Skor, remains securing permanent, year-round access to E15 — a more affordable fuel blend made with 15% American ethanol that can be used in 96% of cars on the road today. In her remarks, Skor emphasized that consumer demand for E15 continues to grow nationwide and that Congress must deliver a lasting solution. 

“We are not going to stop pushing until our lawmakers make law,” said Skor. 

Skor also highlighted the importance of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), expanding access to global markets, and policies that reward innovation and support growth across rural America. 

In addition to the keynote address, this year’s ELC features 19 executive-level educational panels and sessions with speakers from across the renewable fuels, retail, public, and agricultural sectors. The event is ongoing in Scottsdale, Arizona. Follow along on social media using the hashtag #ELC2026. 

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A remarkable Roman mosaic found in Rutland turns out to tell a forgotten version of the Trojan War. Rather than Homer’s famous epic, it reflects a lost Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, featuring vivid scenes of Achilles and Hector. Its artistic patterns echo designs from across the ancient Mediterranean, some dating back 800 years before the mosaic was made. The discovery suggests Roman Britain was deeply plugged into the wider classical world.

A low-fat vegan diet—without cutting calories or carbs—may help people with type 1 diabetes significantly reduce how much insulin they need, and how much they spend on it. In a new analysis published in BMC Nutrition, participants following the plant-based plan lowered their daily insulin use by 28%, while those on a portion-controlled diet saw no meaningful change.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are now found everywhere on Earth, from ocean depths to agricultural soils and even inside the human body. Yet scientists still struggle to understand what these particles actually do once they enter living organisms. A new study proposes an innovative fluorescence-based strategy that could allow researchers to track microplastics in real time as they move, transform, and degrade inside biological systems.

Scientists at HKUST have unveiled a major leap forward in calcium-ion battery technology, potentially opening the door to safer, more sustainable energy storage for everything from renewable power grids to electric vehicles. By designing a novel quasi-solid-state electrolyte made from redox-active covalent organic frameworks, the team solved long-standing issues that have held calcium batteries back—namely poor ion transport and limited stability.

A robotic arm that moves too quickly can feel creepy. One that moves too slowly feels awkward and unhelpful. In a VR study, researchers found that AI-powered prosthetic arms were best accepted when they moved at a natural, human-like speed—about one second per reach. That sweet spot boosted feelings of control, comfort, and even trust in the robot.

A newly identified protein may hold the key to rejuvenating aging brain cells. Researchers found that boosting DMTF1 can restore the ability of neural stem cells to regenerate, even when age-related damage has set in. Without it, these cells struggle to renew and support memory and learning. The findings raise hopes for treatments that could slow or even reverse aspects of brain aging.

A protein called HIF1 may be the missing link behind painful tendon injuries like jumper’s knee and tennis elbow. Researchers showed that high levels of HIF1 actually cause harmful changes that make tendons brittle and prone to pain. In experiments, turning the protein off protected tendons — even under heavy strain.

Sixty thousand years ago, humans in southern Africa were already mastering nature’s chemistry. Scientists have discovered chemical traces of poison from the deadly gifbol plant on ancient quartz arrowheads found in South Africa — the oldest direct evidence of arrow poison ever identified. The find reveals that these early hunters didn’t just invent the bow and arrow earlier than once believed — they also knew how to enhance their weapons with toxic plant compounds to make hunts more effective.

Long before agriculture, humans were transforming Europe’s wild landscapes. Advanced simulations show that hunting and fire use by Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers reshaped forests and grasslands in measurable ways. By reducing populations of giant herbivores, people indirectly altered how dense vegetation became. The findings challenge the idea that prehistoric Europe was an untouched natural world.

A new scientific review challenges the headline-grabbing claim that Yellowstone’s returning wolves triggered one of the strongest trophic cascades on Earth. Researchers found that the reported 1,500% surge in willow growth was based on circular calculations and questionable comparisons. After correcting for modeling and sampling flaws, the supposed ecosystem-wide boom largely disappears.

A newly identified planet candidate, HD 137010 b, looks strikingly Earth-like in size and orbit — but it may be colder than Mars due to its dimmer star. If it has a thick enough atmosphere, though, this icy world could still surprise us.

Scientists studying a rock sample collected by NASA’s Curiosity rover have uncovered something tantalizing: the largest organic molecules ever detected on Mars. The compounds — decane, undecane, and dodecane — may be fragments of fatty acids, which on Earth are most often linked to life. While non-living processes like meteorite impacts can also create such molecules, researchers found those sources couldn’t fully explain the amounts detected.

Coral reefs, worth an estimated $9.8 trillion a year to humanity, are in far worse shape than previously realized. A massive international study found that during the 2014–2017 global marine heatwave, more than half of the world’s reefs suffered significant bleaching, and many experienced large-scale coral death.

Dust from asteroid Bennu is revealing a surprising origin story for life’s building blocks. New research suggests some amino acids formed in frozen ice exposed to radiation, not warm liquid water as scientists long believed. Isotopic clues show Bennu’s chemistry differs sharply from well-studied meteorites, pointing to multiple pathways for creating life’s ingredients.

Scientists have uncovered evidence of a massive underground lava tube hidden beneath the surface of Venus, revealing a new layer of the planet’s volcanic history. By reexamining radar data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, researchers identified what appears to be a huge empty conduit near the volcanic region Nyx Mons. The structure could be nearly a kilometer wide and extend for dozens of kilometers below the surface.

State taxes and fees on motor gasoline as of January 1, 2026, ranged from a high of 70.9 cents per gallon (c/gal) in California to a low of 9.0 c/gal in Alaska. State gasoline taxes averaged 33.5 c/gal across states, a slight increase from their average last year.

Even when Earth was locked in its most extreme deep freeze, the planet’s climate may not have been as silent and still as once believed. New research from ancient Scottish rocks reveals that during Snowball Earth — when ice sheets reached the tropics and the planet resembled a giant snowball from space — climate rhythms similar to today’s seasons, solar cycles, and even El Niño–like patterns were still pulsing beneath the ice.