The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects U.S. drivers will spend less than 2% of their personal disposable incomes on gasoline in 2025—the lowest share since 2005, excluding 2020. In its September Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts significant decreases in oil and gasoline prices this year, consistent with its previous forecasts.

In August 2025, Egyptian firm Blue Ocean Energy struck a $35 billion deal with partners in the Chevron-operated Leviathan field offshore of Israel to import more natural gas from Israel, the latest move by Egypt to meet natural gas demand that is outpacing domestic production. In our latest update to the Eastern Mediterranean Energy briefing, we discuss the drivers behind Egypt's dwindling natural gas supply and analyze the natural gas dynamics in the region.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, kicked off its annual Growth Energy Biofuels Summit (GEBS) in Washington, D.C. today, hosting more than 100 association members for panel discussions, and meetings with top lawmakers to remind them of all the ways homegrown American bioethanol holds down gas prices, strengthens domestic energy production, brings jobs and prosperity to rural America, and delivers enormous environmental benefits. 

Now in its 16th year, the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit has served as the biofuel sector’s premier advocacy event, and this year’s iteration promises to live up to that title with a program full of conversations between industry leaders, policymakers like Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, and elected officials like Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.). 

“We are thrilled to be hosting our advocacy conference at a critically important time for our industry. The timing couldn’t be better as we await decisions and actions on our top federal priorities that will shape our markets for years to come,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor in her Growth Energy Biofuels Summit keynote address. “Driving American innovation, winning at trade, lowering fuel costs, and rebuilding the farm economy—these have been the terms of our engagement. Nine months in, look where we are: E15, the RFS, the 45Z credit, global trade. We have already driven major progress on all of these fronts.” 

Skor continued, urging attendees at the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit to remember that the work of supporting the industry’s priorities—year-round E15, an enhanced 45Z tax credit, a strong Renewable Fuel Standard, and fairer global trade—isn’t done yet. 

“We’ve had big successes… we’re thrilled with some key outcomes, [but] there are still real risks and uncertainties. There is still more to do,” Skor added. “We have policymakers’ attention and some good momentum. Let’s keep pushing ahead.” 

Follow along with the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit on social media using the hashtag #BiofuelsSummit. 

The post Growth Energy Kicks Off 16th Annual Biofuels Summit appeared first on Growth Energy.

Flathead catfish are rapidly reshaping the Susquehanna River’s ecosystem. Once introduced, these voracious predators climbed to the top of the food chain, forcing native fish like channel catfish and bass to shift diets and habitats. Using stable isotope analysis, researchers uncovered how the invaders disrupt food webs, broaden dietary overlaps, and destabilize energy flow across the river system. The findings show how a single invasive species can spark cascading ecological consequences.

Thousands of women are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss without contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies and potential risks for unborn babies. Experts warn clearer medical guidance is urgently needed.

Plants are spreading across the globe faster than ever, largely due to human activity, and new research shows that the very same traits that make plants thrive in their native lands also drive their success abroad. A study of nearly 4,000 European species reveals that tall, adaptable, nutrient-loving generalists dominate both at home and in foreign ecosystems.

Tiny ocean microbes called Prochlorococcus, once thought to be climate survivors, may struggle as seas warm. These cyanobacteria drive 5% of Earth’s photosynthesis and underpin much of the marine food web. A decade of research shows they thrive only within a narrow temperature range, and warming oceans could slash their populations by up to 50% in tropical waters.

New research has revealed that East Antarctica’s vast and icy interior is heating up faster than its coasts, fueled by warm air carried from the Southern Indian Ocean. Using 30 years of weather station data, scientists uncovered a hidden climate driver that current models fail to capture, suggesting the world’s largest ice reservoir may be more vulnerable than previously thought.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, submitted comments to the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today, calling on the agencies to act quickly to make the most of the Section 45Z clean fuel production tax credit, which was enhanced and extended by the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) in July.  

“The Trump administration and Congress delivered a huge win to American farmers and biofuel producers by extending and enhancing the 45Z tax credit in the OBBB. Now we need Treasury and IRS to finish the job by answering key questions and making regulatory decisions that maximize the credit’s benefits,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to weigh in on this process on behalf of America’s ethanol producers, and we look forward to seeing the investments in energy dominance that this credit will unlock once taxpayers know the rules of the road.” 

Specifically, Growth Energy’s comments on the 45Z tax credit called on Treasury and IRS to: 

• Allow taxpayers to deduct emissions associated with indirect land use change from the current 45ZCF-GREET Model. 

• Ensure that the 45ZCF-GREET User Manual allows producers to account for additional food and beverage-related emissions reductions, and all carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)-related emissions reductions verified using a Section 45Q lifecycle analysis. 

• Allow on-farm agricultural practices to reduce carbon intensity (CI).  

• Structure the Section 45Z regulations so that they have no arbitrary restrictions on the use of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to demonstrate CI reductions. 

• Provide further flexibility and clarity in demonstrating compliance with the prevailing wage requirements.   

• Clarify that exported ethanol that is “suitable for use as a fuel” is eligible for the Section 45Z credit. 

• Promptly finalize the provisional emissions rate process. 

These comments build upon and supplement Growth Energy’s comments on IRS Notices 2025-10 and 2025-11, as well as our comments on the IRS’ proposed rulemaking on prevailing wage requirements surrounding the 45z tax credit.  

Read the full comment here. 

The post Growth Energy Calls on Treasury, IRS to Give Ethanol Producers Greater Certainty on Revised 45Z Tax Credit appeared first on Growth Energy.

Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus has long fascinated scientists with its spectacular water plumes, which NASA’s Cassini spacecraft once revealed to contain organic molecules. Many hoped these molecules hinted at life-supporting chemistry in the moon’s hidden ocean. But new experiments suggest they may not come from the ocean at all—instead, radiation from Saturn’s magnetosphere could be producing them right on Enceladus’s frozen surface.

Scientists caution that asteroid deflection must be precise, as striking the wrong spot risks sending it through a gravitational keyhole that sets up a future collision with Earth. Using lessons from NASA’s DART mission, researchers are developing probability maps to guide safer impact strategies.

Astronomers have directly spotted a rare young planet, WISPIT 2b, still forming within the gap of a dusty ringed disk around a star like our sun—something long theorized but never observed until now.

Orangutans, humans’ close evolutionary relatives, have developed remarkable strategies to survive in the unpredictable rainforests of Borneo. A Rutgers-led study reveals that these apes balance protein intake and adjust their activity to match food availability, avoiding obesity and metabolic disease. Unlike humans, who often overeat processed foods without adjusting energy use, orangutans switch between fruits, leaves, and even stored body fat depending on the season. Their ability to maintain protein levels and conserve energy during scarcity offers insights not only into their survival but also into healthier dietary habits for people.

Artificial intelligence is consuming enormous amounts of energy, but researchers at the University of Florida have built a chip that could change everything by using light instead of electricity for a core AI function. By etching microscopic lenses directly onto silicon, they’ve enabled laser-powered computations that cut power use dramatically while maintaining near-perfect accuracy.

Like LEGO for the quantum age, researchers have created modular superconducting qubits that can be linked with high fidelity. This design allows reconfiguration, upgrades, and scalability, marking a big step toward fault-tolerant quantum computers.

Scientists have discovered that even short-term exposure to polluted air can speed up Alzheimer’s, worsening toxic protein buildup in the brain and accelerating memory loss. The research connects fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from sources like smoke and traffic directly to faster cognitive decline.

UC Berkeley researchers mapped the brain circuits that control growth hormone during sleep, uncovering a feedback system where sleep fuels hormone release, and the hormone regulates wakefulness. The discovery helps explain links between poor sleep, obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline, while opening new paths for treating sleep and metabolic disorders.

Scientists discovered seven molecules in the blood linked to excessive daytime sleepiness, a condition that affects one in three Americans and raises the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. The study highlights the role of both diet and hormones, finding that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may protect against drowsiness, while compounds like tyramine may worsen it.

Scientists at Leipzig University have identified a little-known receptor, GPR133, as a key player in bone health. By stimulating this receptor with a new compound called AP503, they were able to boost bone strength in mice, even reversing osteoporosis-like conditions. The breakthrough highlights a promising path toward safer and more effective treatments for millions struggling with bone loss, while also hinting at broader benefits for aging populations.

Researchers have uncovered why older adults are more vulnerable to severe flu. The culprit is a protein called ApoD, which rises with age and disrupts the body’s ability to fight infection. This protein damages lung tissue and weakens immune defenses, leading to worse outcomes. By pinpointing ApoD as the driver, scientists now see a promising new treatment target that could protect elderly patients from life-threatening influenza and dramatically cut flu-related deaths.