In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. working natural gas inventories will reach 3,872 billion cubic feet (Bcf) by the end of October, or 2% more than the previous five-year average for that time of year. Natural gas inventories grew quickly in late April through early June, with seven consecutive weeks of net injections to inventories exceeding 100 Bcf each for the first time since 2014.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In comments submitted today, Growth Energy—the nation’s largest biofuel trade association—commended the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for initiating its Section 301 investigation into Brazil for its unfair trade practices and called on the agency to take bold action on behalf of American ethanol producers who are placed at a competitive disadvantage bilaterally and globally due to the country’s discriminatory practices. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide input on ethanol market access challenges considering Brazil’s years-long effort to seek preferential treatment for their ethanol in the United States while limiting U.S. market access into Brazil through tariff and non-tariff measures,” said Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley in the comments. “We further appreciate the opportunity to highlight the unfair actions by Brazil, bilaterally and within international organizations, to artificially improve the standing of their ethanol vis-à-vis U.S. corn ethanol despite our historic price benefit and low-risk sustainable practices.” 

Brazil’s discriminatory policies against imported ethanol prevent American producers from participating in the country’s low carbon fuel policy (RenovaBio), and those rules have contributed to a bilateral U.S. ethanol trade deficit, which hit $150 million last year.  

Bliley’s comments also delved into the history of the U.S.-Brazil ethanol trade relationship, noting that more than a decade ago, Brazil voiced its support for free trade between the two markets and actually removed a tariff on American ethanol in April 2010.  

After securing similarly open treatment in the U.S., however, “Brazil executed a ‘bait and switch’ against U.S. ethanol: it actively sought U.S. removal of its ‘other duty and charge’ (ODC) by referencing their own tariff removal, and then—when that took place—they reinstated their tariff,” Bliley said. “Brazil took these actions to meet their own goals and serve the interests of their ethanol and agricultural industries. Brazil’s actions actively discriminate against U.S. ethanol, have demonstrably burdened U.S. ethanol, and have imposed economic barriers that restrict U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil.” As an example, Bliley noted that U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil were valued at just $53 million in 2024, a 95% decrease from their $1.1 billion peak in 2011. 

Growth Energy also highlighted the questionable sustainability practices that Brazil is seeking to enshrine in international lifecycle modeling, while ignoring the environmental benefits of American corn ethanol. 

The full comment can be found here. 

The post Growth Energy Calls on USTR to Take Action against Brazil’s Unfair Trade Practices appeared first on Growth Energy.

David’s Notes

1. 🎫 In September, I will be attending Climate Week NYC and participating in a few events. I’m doing two shows with Canary Media. The first is their Climate Night Live at Climate Week NYC on Sept 22nd (5 - 10pm), where I will be interviewing … someone on stage (stay tuned.)

I will also be taping a live pod with Carlos Araque, co-founder and CEO of Quaise Energy, a geothermal company. That event will be on Sept 24 (12 - 4pm) at IndieBio NY. As always, we’ve set aside a handful of free tickets for paid Volts subscribers. Register your interest here.

Let me know if you’re going to be in NYC!

2.🍹I doubt anyone has noticed, but this past month has been lighter than usual on Volts content. Thanks to your ludicrously appreciated ongoing support, the Volts team was able to take a bit of a breather and do some summer stuff. Kyle spent the time sprucing up a first-time home purchase (an early 1800s Cape Cod cottage with a root cellar!) and volunteered on a friend’s oyster farm (shucks!), Sam welcomed a new baby girl (Sylvia!), and Basil roadtripped to Chicago.

Meanwhile, I did this:

I hope y’all have been able to do something meaningful and fun this summer. Let me know in comments!

3. A few episode updates.

Lauri Myllyvirta was on the pod in April to talk about China’s decarbonization plans and now he’s written a great piece on China’s recent coal-building spree:

In my July conversation with PG&E’s Quinn Nakayama, we only briefly touched on virtual power plants (VPPs), but I’m glad to share the following report, relayed by Semafor, regarding a test of California’s residential battery capacity:

4. Speaking of things I did this summer! Last community thread I briefly mentioned that I was headed to my biannual family reunion in middle Tennessee. Well, I went, and it was amazing and soul-restoring. And while we were down there, Mrs. Volts and I enjoyed our 25th wedding anniversary! We celebrated with a meal at Waffle House. Here are my hashbrowns: double order, extra burnt, scattered, smothered, covered, diced, peppered, capped, and topped (but not chunked … never chunked).

5. ✅ Community comment of the month from misheast, who helps explain why Spain can have nice things and we can’t:

Monthly Thread — How It Works

This is your monthly opportunity to share! Use the comments section in this community thread to:

• CLIMATE JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES: Share climate jobs/opportunities

• SHARE WORK, ASK FOR HELP, FIND COLLABORATORS: Share your climate-related work, ask for help, or find collaborators

• CLIMATE EVENTS & MEETUPS: Share climate-related events and meetups

• EVERYTHING ELSE: Discuss David’s Notes or anything else climate-related

• QUESTIONS: Ask a question to the community or for an upcoming bonus episode (anyone can ask a question but bonus episodes are a paid-sub-only perk). Don’t be afraid to answer one another’s questions!

🚨 To keep organized, please only “REPLY” directly under one of Sam’s headline comments. Anything inappropriate, spammy, etc may be deleted. Be nice! Check out our Community Guidelines.

A team in Milan has developed a first-of-its-kind single-atom catalyst that acts like a molecular switch, enabling cleaner, more adaptable chemical reactions. Stable, recyclable, and eco-friendly, it marks a major step toward programmable sustainable chemistry.

Scientists found that Great Salt Lake’s chemistry and water balance were stable for thousands of years, until human settlement. Irrigation and farming in the 1800s and a railroad causeway in 1959 created dramatic, lasting changes. The lake now behaves in ways unseen for at least 2,000 years.

A breakthrough mRNA cancer vaccine has shown the ability to supercharge the effects of immunotherapy in mice, sparking hope for a universal “off-the-shelf” treatment that could fight multiple cancers. Unlike traditional vaccines designed to target specific tumor proteins, this approach simply revs up the immune system as if it were fighting a virus. The results were dramatic—when paired with checkpoint inhibitors, tumors shrank, and in some cases, the vaccine alone wiped them out.

Researchers analyzing 33 studies found strong evidence that highly sensitive people are more prone to depression and anxiety but also more likely to benefit from therapy. Since about 31% of the population is highly sensitive, experts argue that clinicians should consider sensitivity levels when diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Researchers discovered that Covid accelerates blood vessel aging by about five years, especially in women. Even mild infections increased arterial stiffness, with vaccinated individuals showing less damage. This vascular aging may raise long-term heart and stroke risk.

A sweeping review of 67 trials has cast doubt on the use of ketamine and similar NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain relief. While ketamine is frequently prescribed off-label for conditions like fibromyalgia and nerve pain, researchers found little convincing evidence of real benefit and flagged serious side effects such as delusions and nausea. The lack of data on whether it reduces depression or opioid use adds to the uncertainty.

Scientists are developing a surgery-free alternative to LASIK that reshapes the cornea using electricity instead of lasers. In rabbit tests, the method corrected vision in minutes without incisions.

By exploring positive geometry, mathematicians are revealing hidden shapes that may unify particle physics and cosmology, offering new ways to understand both collisions in accelerators and the origins of the universe.

The massive 2025 Myanmar earthquake revealed that strike slip faults can behave in surprising ways. Using satellite data, Caltech researchers found the Sagaing Fault ruptured more dramatically than expected, suggesting faults like the San Andreas could unleash even larger quakes than history shows.

NASA-backed simulations reveal that meltwater from Greenland’s Jakobshavn Glacier lifts deep-ocean nutrients to the surface, sparking large summer blooms of phytoplankton that feed the Arctic food web.

With its two tiny CubeSats, NASA’s PREFIRE mission is capturing invisible heat escaping from Earth, offering clues to how ice, clouds, and storms influence the climate system. The insights could lead to better weather forecasts and a deeper understanding of global change.

NASA and ISRO s NISAR satellite has just reached a major milestone: the successful deployment of its enormous 39-foot antenna reflector in orbit. Folded up like an umbrella during launch, the reflector is now fully extended and ready to support NISAR s groundbreaking radar systems. This record-breaking satellite will monitor everything from shifting ice sheets and glaciers to the subtle movement of land caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides.

Roughly two-thirds of all atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas, comes from methanogens. Tracking down which methanogens in which environment produce methane with a specific isotope signature is difficult, however. UC Berkeley researchers have for the first time CRISPRed the key enzyme involved in microbial methane production to understand the unique isotopic fingerprints of different environments to better understand Earth's methane budget.

Scientists have uncovered an extinct shelduck from the Chatham Islands that evolved shorter wings and stronger legs, adapting to a predator-free, windy environment. It vanished before the 19th century, likely due to hunting and predation.

Rising CO₂ levels will make the upper atmosphere colder and thinner, altering how geomagnetic storms impact satellites. Future storms could cause sharper density spikes despite lower overall density, increasing drag-related challenges.

Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against cancer cells. The bacteria act like Trojan horses, carrying viral payloads to cancer’s core, where the virus can spread and destroy malignant cells. Built-in safety features ensure the virus can’t multiply outside the tumor, offering a promising pathway for safe, targeted therapy.

Researchers have synthesized a stable cyclo[48]carbon, a unique 48-carbon ring that can be studied in solution at room temperature, a feat never achieved before.