STUFF

Harvard lost its top world ranking to CalTech.

Eagle Ford shale (SE Texas) to add ~420kb/d to US oil production over next several years. TX Railroad Commission: permits issued 1st 8 months of '11 more than total from previous 3 yrs. Production 1H11 almost equaled all of '10.

N. Am  rail carloads reached '11 high in week-ended Oct 1. (And intermodal units). 3rd straight week of gains. Buffett's BNSF had highest total in 3 yrs.

Admin sent WTO a list of 200 programs, some solar and wind power, that may unfairly benefit China.

EPA panel issued plan for Gulf Coast restoration to address long-term problems of gulf, Miss. River.

Head of UK's Institute of Mech engineering says climate, resource problems may make future economic growth much harder. Need an engineering degree to see that?

Head of DOE loan program resigned. Well, the program did end.

EU on track to meet Kyoto targets.

Wetland losses linked to climate change in a report. Another study showed plants adapt genetically to climate.

Uruguay to become major exporter of NG. Potentially >20TCF in deposits just off coast. Schuepbach Energy (Dallas) involved in development. Brazil, Argentina and Portugal comps already active in Uruguay's sector offshore.

Frito-Lay opened renovated plant in AZ that will run "near net zero". Mostly renewable energy, mostly recycled water, most of waste will not go to landfill. Kraft, Campbell also have been making progress in sustainability.

Governor of Bank of England: this is the most serious financial crisis at least since the '30's, if not ever. PM Cameron: threat as serious now as in '08. THEY'RE the ones who can do anything about it. Thanks for the heads up, guys.

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan upset that client lost oil deal there. Um, OK, there's oil there? Why aren't we drilling it by now to bring down OUR pump prices?

Well, happy weekend trails, pards.