After a lovely holiday weekend, following an unusually balmy winter and early spring, it may be hard to think of who is paying the price for our beautiful weather.
This past winter was the fourth warmest in the last 117 years (according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and with that kind of weather there’s always a victim.
This year, it’s the would be energy giant–natural gas.
With over-production and a lack of demand, the U.S. natural gas market is literally bursting at the seams.
After a typical winter, about about 1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas is in storage. This year, there is 2.5 trillion cubic feet. That’s a mere 1.9 trillion cubic feet shy of full capacity.
Of course, at the end of the day it’s the utility companies that suffer. Forced to sell their product for well below the usual inflated price.
And with no reprieve from climate change or high energy demand in sight, this summer could be just as tough (temperatures are expected to be around “normal”). We can only hope that its energy rivals coal and gasoline are spared this consequence for its actions.
_____________________________________
More on the Story: MSNBC.com
…just for fun:
