Global Warming Results In Extraordinary Natural Gas Drawdown; War On Coal Claims Another Victim

The natural gas drawdown this winter is unprecedented. The EIA is reporting (Feb 28, 2014; this is a dynamic link and will change in one week, if not sooner):

Working gas in storage was 1,196 Bcf as of Friday, February 28, 2014, according to EIA estimates.

This represents a net decline of 152 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 908 Bcf less than last year at this time and 758 Bcf below the 5-year average of 1,954 Bcf.

In the East Region, stocks were 370 Bcf below the 5-year average following net withdrawals of 82 Bcf. Stocks in the Producing Region were 273 Bcf below the 5-year average of 754 Bcf after a net withdrawal of 43 Bcf. Stocks in the West Region were 114 Bcf below the 5-year average after a net drawdown of 27 Bcf.

At 1,196 Bcf, total working gas is below the 5-year historical range.

The graphic at the link is quite remarkable.

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Meanwhile, Fergus Falls, MN, will take a huge hit because of the war on coal, despite reassurances by the EPA that there is no war on coal. LOL.

PrairieBizMagazine is reporting:

The shutdown of the Hoot Lake plant will have a noticeable impact on Fergus Falls. The company, which is headquartered in Fergus Falls and employs about 400 people there, paid $1.5 million in property taxes in 2012, making it a major contributor to the city’s economy, says Mark Helland, vice president of customer service.

The Hoot Lake plant currently employs 45 people and is responsible for the bulk of property taxes the company pays to Fergus Falls, he says. He noted that even if the facility is replaced in Fergus Falls, the new plant will have a lessened impact on the economy because it will no longer require coal shipments by railroad and will likely pay less in property taxes.

I always like the way the press reports these stories. The lede:

Changing federal regulations regarding emissions outputs at the nation’s power plants will impact operations at northern Plains’ coal-fired power plants to varying degrees, depending on the age of the facility, the type of coal used and the types of technology installed at the plant to limit emissions.

Yes, the federal regulations just happened to change....the folks that forced the change are not mentioned...an inconvenient truth in an election year....