Weather, Water, Energy 10-18-06

The Boston Globe reports that Google is converting part of its HQ to solar energy at an undisclosed cost estimated to be re-couped in 5-10 years. This should be a nice shot in the arm for the solar industry, which is expected to grow from $11b. last year to $51b. in 2015. . . . A Money analyst is getting us prepared for the next big oil price shock, this time from Russia's taking back control of its oil within the next couple of years. . . . Did you know the UK had a climate change minister? What a concept, right? And right now he's advocating an action plan and funding to help developing countries to adapt to climate change. A climate summit next month in Africa will see how far he gets. What do you think the odds are? . . . The Christian Science Monitor has a good article on the perennial and never-ending problem of traffic, highways, and never-gunna-happen mass transit. The details are depressing, but one option not discussed in simply greater working-at-home. Ultimately that seems more workable than more highways to clog, mass transit that has never really caught on enough even where it's caught on, and higher taxes on travellers who may or may not be able to afford. The "more highways" issue just strikes me like the "more prisons" issue. There's not enough money or locations for the logical outcome of constant "more" for either so why not just do now what you'll have to do then anyway? But I suppose I'm not being logical. . . . The League of Conservation Voters bags another state--NE, where a number of sometimes opposing groups are pulling together as they have in 2 dozen states. . . . And, in another sign of our environmental future, CO is seeing communities hiring private eyes to record (aka spy) if farmers are illegally pumping irrigation water. Since some well owners have been shut down, the apparently wasn't frivolous, but just hide and watch what happens if global warming models for our West are right. This will just be a taste.