Analysts say high gas prices and fuel shortages could linger into October. And a NASA scientist says to beat global warming, we should burn wood, not coal.

Implications of a Ten Day Refinery Outage: High gasoline prices and worsening fuel shortages are likely to continue well into October. The problem? Thanks to a previous shutdown for Hurricane Gustav, gasoline stocks were already low before this weekend’s strike by Hurricane Ike. Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest conduits or refined petroleum products in the Southeast, has already been closed due to insufficient stocks. According to AAA, gasoline prices spiked about 20 cents per gallon over the weekend, up to a national average of $3.80. Some areas reported spot prices in excess of $5 per gallon. (The Oil Drum)

Execs Lack Budgets To Green Data Centers: Nearly 90 percent of the IT executives who participated ina new survey say greening their company’s data centers by 2010 is mission critical. But the overwhelming majority of these same managers admit they have no budget to meet green goals. The Voltaire survey shows strong support for energy-saving technologies, despite funding shortfalls. The questions were posed to participants at the 2008 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium. (Environmental Leader)

Get Rid of Coal and Use Trees Instead, Urges Hansen: NASA climate scientist James Hansen has a bold proposal to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide: dump coal and start burning trees for fuel. Hansen thinks growing vast stands of timber for fuel and sequestering the resulting emissions would turn forests into natural carbon sinks. Hansen said such a scheme could reduce atmospheric carbon levels to 350 ppm by the end of the century is implemented by 2030. (Treehugger)

Ford Paces New Hybrid Model Rollouts: Ford Motor Company executive Ford executive David Finnegan say there are plug-in hybrids in his company’s future — but not just yet. Finnegan told the Denver Post last week that before Ford jumps into hybrids, it wants to see consumer support and the prospect of strong sales. He says the first Ford plug-ins would come no earlier than 2013, and that fully electric cars aren’t likely until sometime after 2020. (Denver Post)

Eco Gadgets: ‘Eco Dry’ hair dryer twice as efficient as normal hair dryers: A new hand-held hair dryer works as well as conventional models, but uses half the power. The BaBliss Eco Hair Drier draws about 500 watts, taking advantage of new heater and airflow technology to dry as quickly as 1000 watt units. It retails for £19.99 in the UK, or about $36 USD. (Ecofried)

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