How much will the climate and energy bill save consumers in future transportation costs? This NRDC analysis says "Americans can expect to save over $24 billion in vehicle transportation costs in 2020" from vehicle efficiency improvements and limits on carbon emissions. Policies that are meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the amount of motor fuel consumers use and save them a lot of money. The analysis also takes into account changes in vehicle ownership costs (rising vehicle costs due to efficiency improvements) and other factors.

State-by-state savings vary, as shown in the chart below, but in all states consumers stand to save money. The estimated average household transportation fuel cost savings per month in 2020 range from $22.52 in New York to $6.84 in Iowa. These are the savings compared to a scenario where vehicle efficiencies stayed at 2009 levels and take into account possible softening of gasoline price rises due to decreasing U.S. fuel demand. (There are still savings without this gasoline price factor.)

There are a lot of questions about this analysis that aren't answered in the NRDC post, but maybe a more detailed report will be issued. If so I will provide a link to it here.

Europe was stunned to silence by Eyjafjallajökull's eruption. Birds tweeting on the tarmac, skies devoid of contrails, the roar of jets stilled, packed trains and ferries. As Professor Barnhardt asked Hilda in The Day The Earth Stood Still, "Tell me, Hilda, does all this frighten you? Does it make you feel insecure?" Hilda: "Yes, sir, it certainly does." Professor Barnhardt: "That's good, Hilda. I'm glad."

Alas, there is no Gort to "burn the Earth to a cinder" if we don't get our emissions act together, and that would probably be ecologically unsound anyway.  As soon as the dust settles the airlines and passengers will try to get back to "normal" as soon as possible. The only change will be that airlines will be begging governments for billions. Wait, maybe they were doing that already . . . .

The Economist discusses future eruption risks here.

Scammers seized an opportunity, as described here.

Some trial and tribulations are recounted here.

Schadenfreude ran rampant, as here.

And "Klaatu barada nikto" is Icelandic for "Quit pestering us for that 3.8 billion euros, or else."

[shared on Doc's Green Blog]