Heat wave could leave lasting price impact

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14153714/

As a blistering heat wave continued to sear much of the U.S., utilities struggled to produce record amounts of power, natural gas prices soared, and farmers assessed damage to scorched crops. Though temperatures eased Wednesday in the western half of the country, the impact on consumers may be felt long after cooler breezes begin flowing again in the east.

Farmers were especially hard hit, which means lost crops could translate to higher prices of everything from walnuts to ethanol.

“This is a very, very strong drought situation,” said Jim Bower, a commodities broker based in Lafayette, Ind. “In the western corn belt, the new ethanol plants will have to scramble much harder for feed stock than they thought just several weeks ago.”

<snip>

Natural gas prices surged again Wednesday, as gas-fired power plants struggled to keep up with record demand from home and office air conditioners running full blast. Residential natural gas prices have doubled in the past three years, and tight supplies could force heating bill higher this winter.

[acmavm]

1. Of course it will. But unless you're one of bush**s 'constituency', you

are liable to play hell paying for it.

I sure am glad that the ex-CEO of Exxon can pass on his estate to his kids with them paying any taxes on it. If I die, my kids have to hope they can refinance the mortgage.

[Sherman A1]

2. Prices have been going up

everywhere and it's just the beginning.

[doodadem]

3. Fresno Bee had an article last night

Saying that over 4,000 cows had been lost to the heat here last week, and could expect milk prices to increase accordingly.

[Critters2]

4. Many of those cows were living in confinements

Keeping hundreds of large animals locked in close proximity in a heat wave is bound to kill some. Farmers who use these processes have no one to blame but themselves. While free-range cattle suffer in heat as well, they have some natural ways of trying to cope. Locked in a building or feedlot, they're just waiting to die.

[gmtmaster]

5. Its Hot........

Nothing can be done about it... Move along.. Next topic

[theophilus]

6. Yeah, but considering ongoing humanmade climate change, it is

going to continue to be inordinately hot somewhere in the U.S. with monotonous regularity. This means we need to DO something. We must change our behavior, in the long run, and we must help our neighbors who are suffering, in the short run. The time to "move along" has passed. The time to ACT is now! I'm sure you agree.

[gmtmaster]

7. Agreed... Blame game must stop..

Pointing fingers does no good at all. Action IS needed.. Lets act instead of blame.

[Nihil]

9. You're joking, right?

> Pointing fingers does no good at all. Action IS needed..
> Lets act instead of blame.

If you consider "accepting man's influence on the climate" as
"pointing fingers" or playing the "blame game" then you really
need to open your eyes.

Otherwise (i.e., if you continue to believe in the Fox News version)
your "action" will most likely be "boost the air-con" or "pray"
instead of *reducing* your demands on the planet.

Welcome to DU but *please* start reading about the truth of
climate change before parroting the BushCo lines or other people
may not welcome you for long.

[Anakin Skywalker]

8. Don't Worry! Bush Will

save you all! He is a true American Hero, bigger than Superman, bigger than Captain America, damn it!