At the halfway point, 2006 is shaping up to be the warmest year on record for the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), preliminary data show the average January to June temperature for the 48 contiguous states was 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 3.4 degrees F above average during the 20th Century. The heat is taxing electrical power systems while a continuing drought is depleting hydropower resources. The year is also shaping up to be the sixth warmest on record for the globe, with January to June average temperatures at 0.9 degrees F above the 20th-Century mean. For more information see the press release and analysis from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. And if you didn't noticed, July was pretty warm as well with a heat wave setting records across much of the country. For information about July, see the press releases from the Long Island Power Authority and the California Independent System Operator. Throw on another blanket of PINK FIBERGLAS insulation!