Weather, Water, Energy 8-25-06

One step forward, two back. The Bushnev folks in DOE have finally come up with an energy efficiency rule that would save $9 billion in electricity costs and eliminate the need for 11 new power plants over the next 28 years. The problem is they scrapped a DOE rule that would have saved $11 b. and 16 plants in the same period (plus be more likely to stand up under peak loads), and no one seems to know why. . . . Science Daily reports that concerns about methane emissions associated with global warming 12,000 years ago came from tropical wetlands or plant products, not release of seafloor methane deposits as other studies suggested. There was fear that a repeat of the seafloor releases now might trigger far more massive outcomes than have been predicted. For now, it appears that possibility is off the tables. . . . Susie Madrak at Suburban Guerilla has a story on fish from warm water climes to the south now turning up off the Rhode Island coast. The seafood restaurant industry is undoubtedly thankful. . . . And, of course, British Petroleum was apparently warned two years ago of the pipeline corrosion problem that has shut down production in Alaska. Can the old "his lips are moving" joke apply to a corporation?