With fertilizer shortages driving up input costs and an ongoing energy crisis squeezing every link in the fuel supply chain, America’s decades-long experiment with corn-based ethanol is under fresh scrutiny. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) still mandates roughly 15 billion gallons of conventional (corn) ethanol blending annually, supported by new tax credits such as the […]
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Southern Nevadans are paying over $5 a gallon for gas — and Congresswoman Susie Lee wants you to believe it’s all because of “Trump’s war.” In a now-viral X post, Rep. Lee (D-NV) claimed: “Southern Nevadans are now paying over $5/gallon for gas because of Trump’s war. We need to lower costs for hardworking families. […]
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While California’s leaders double down on aggressive decarbonization mandates and refinery-hostile regulations, Australia is delivering a live-action preview of exactly where those policies lead: shuttered refineries, chronic import dependence, and a full-blown fuel crisis that is now hammering farmers, truckers, and everyday consumers. The timing could not be more urgent. As of March 2026, Australia’s […]
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Chevron Corp. has issued a stark warning to California: the state is barreling toward a full-blown fuel crisis unless the ongoing war with Iran eases and state officials slash taxes and regulations that have strangled its refining industry. The world’s second-largest oil company is signaling it may walk away from refining in the Golden State […]
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The global agriculture sector is staring down a perfect storm of fertilizer disruptions, diesel fuel shortages, and skyrocketing energy costs—all triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East after “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28, 2026. What began as a geopolitical flashpoint has rapidly […]
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Energy News Beat Special Report – March 2026 Escalating conflicts have turned oil refineries into strategic targets worldwide. Ukrainian drone campaigns continue to hammer Russian facilities, while the 2026 Iran war (U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation across the Gulf) has triggered widespread damage to refineries, terminals, and related gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, […]
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Port Arthur, Texas — A powerful explosion rocked Valero Energy’s massive Port Arthur refinery on the evening of March 23, 2026, triggering a shelter-in-place order, a towering plume of black smoke visible for miles, and immediate operational disruptions at the 435,000-barrel-per-day facility. The blast occurred around 6:30 p.m. CDT. Residents across Port Arthur, Groves, and […]
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As the world grapples with escalating tensions in the Middle East, diesel and fertilizer markets are buckling under unprecedented pressure. A fresh crisis is unfolding in real time, with farmers on the front lines and consumers set to feel the ripple effects at the pump and the grocery store. Australia’s unfolding fuel emergency offers a […]
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California’s refining industry — once the backbone of the West Coast’s fuel supply — stands at a make-or-break moment. With just seven refineries still operating as of March 2026, the state is weeks away from the next wave of closures that will slash capacity by another 17–20%. Phillips 66’s Wilmington complex shut down late 2025; […]
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As the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran roils global energy markets and pushes benchmark crude above $100 per barrel at times, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is wielding sanctions policy like a supply-side tool. With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure and Iranian exports partially disrupted, Bessent has already pulled several levers — temporary Russian oil sanctions […]
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