California just gave plastic producers until 2032 to make all their packaging recyclable or compostable — the most ambitious deadline in the country. Advocates say it doesn’t go far enough. Producers say it goes too far. At least one of them is threatening to sue. The sweeping regulations, finalized at the start of the month,...
Trump Administration to Scrap Rule That Elevated Land Conservation
The Trump administration on Monday said it would repeal a Biden-era rule that allowed public lands to be leased for conservation purposes, abandoning an effort to protect millions of acres from both industrial development and the effects of climate change. The rule, issued by the Bureau of Land Management, had prioritized the use of federal...
America Can’t Build Fast Enough. Judicial Review Reform Can Help
To remain competitive on the global stage, the United States needs more energy infrastructure, and we need it sooner than our current system allows. New data centers, a resurgence in American manufacturing and emerging technologies are critical for growth but demand more power. We need more generation and transmission, stronger supply chains and faster deployment...
Will DOE’s ‘nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses’ solve the US nuclear waste problem?
After decades of stalemate over what to do with radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, the U.S. Department of Energy is hoping states can be convinced to take in some of that used fuel as part of a broader effort that could include advanced industries, power generation, data centers — and the promise of long-term...
Energy Affordability Check-In
Politicians—especially those facing reelection this year—are starting to hammer the energy affordability debate once again. There’s often a disconnect between political discourse and reality. But in the case of energy affordability, the data tells us that perhaps there is less hyperbole in these debates than usual. The following chart shows the change in prices for residential electricity,...
Passing a strong Farm Bill that delivers for rural America
When I came to Congress, I was committed to giving farmers, producers, and working families a seat at the table and delivering results for those who make Iowa’s 4th district a strong and productive community. Serving one of the largest agricultural districts in the nation, I kept a clear goal: pass a strong, comprehensive Farm...
America’s energy weakness isn’t overseas — it’s at home
I didn’t come to the Senate from politics — I came from the field. I started as an engineer in Oklahoma’s energy sector and eventually led a company building and maintaining critical infrastructure. That experience taught me a simple lesson: Energy abundance is meaningless if you can’t move it to where it’s needed. Every time...
Trillium Raises $13 Million for Plant-Based Industrial Chemicals
The chemicals industry, which accounts for about 5% of global emissions, can seem like a black box. Fossil fuel-based feedstocks go in and out pop plastic toys or agricultural fertilizer or laundry detergent. But most of us don’t understand what happens in between. That’s the part of the supply chain where Trillium Renewable Chemicals is...
Will China’s new airborne wind turbine succeed where predecessors failed?
On 5 January 2026, the skies of Yibin were briefly darkened by the S2000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) – a buoyant air turbine (BAT) measuring 60m in length, 40m in width and 40m in height (197 × 131 × 131ft). The helium-powered platform rose to around 2,000m (6,560ft) in 30 minutes, generating 385kWh-hours (kWh) of power...
Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern rail merger puts America first
Drew Bond writes in the Washington Examiner about the rail merger and strengthening supply chains. As Washington debates how to strengthen supply chains, lower costs, and stay competitive with China, one of the most consequential infrastructure decisions in years is receiving far too little attention. The Surface Transportation Board will soon decide whether to approve the merger between...









