Global warming is a frightening concept for Austinites – how could stand to get any warmer? Austin's moderate much of the year and unbearably hot in late spring and summer, so we welcome the kind of arctic blast that will be blowing through later today. Despite the cold, we know it's going to be hot hot hot most of the year, and it might be hotter still if Texas gets nineteen additional coal plants. Check out their potential emissions on a fact sheet published by Public Citizen. (There's
more information at stopthecoalplant.org and at Public Citizen's site, in a section on Global Warming in Texas. Even the Dallas Morning News, in its objective reportage, seems to conclude that the coal plants are a problem.

What's happening in Texas is consistent with scientists' scenarios of global warming – adding to the better-known evidence of rising temperatures, such as melting glaciers.

Earlier in the same piece, his press secretary says that Governor believes "that state curbs on greenhouses gases 'could dramatically harm our economy,'" a signal that the governor doesn't want to follow California in its attempt to control emissions. A chart at the bottom of the page shows Texas' emissions at 723 million tons a year, and California's, 422 million.

Enjoy the chill while it lasts.