Given I am completely immersed in economic nerdiness as I prep for next week’s Platts conference, the burrito side of my brain has staged a coup and steered me back toward the more lighthearted ( / stormy) side of Energyland™.

So with the official start to Atlantic hurricane season beckoning tomorrow (June 1), let us take a look at the potential runners and riders for this swell season, as well as ten names and refrains which trundle their way back to energy.

First up, the potential runners and riders for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season:

Alberto*     Beryl*      Chris     Debby     Ernesto     Florence     Gordon     Helene     Isaac     Joyce     Kirk     Leslie      Michael     Nadine     Oscar     Patty     Rafael    Sandy     Tony     Valerie     William

Who comes up with these names? NOAA does. Since 1953 the names for tropical storms come from six lists, which are used in rotation.

What happens if there is another storm after William? Additional storms take their names from the Greek alphabet.

*Alberto and Beryl have already been and gone

Next up, here are ten potential hurricane names* which are already inextricably linked to energy:

1) BILL (as in electricity)

2) John DOE

3) rBOB

4) SEAMus – as in coal (phonetic Pronunciation: SHAY-muhs)

5) VIN Diesel

6) Pete! PEAT!

7) Nicolas CAGE

8) Noah! (well, NOAA!)

9) Jean Claude Van DAMme

10) BRENT crude oil

*According to me

And finally, a compilation to provide the soundtrack to this hurricane season:

1) Hurricane – Bob Dylan

2) Hurricane J – The Hold Steady

3) Stormy Weather – Frank Sinatra

4) Butterflies and Hurricanes – Muse

5) Like A Hurricane – Neil Young

6) Behold The Hurricane – The Horrible Crowes

7) Bad Weather – The Supremes

8) Hurricane Drunk – Florence And The Machine

9) Hurricane – Panic! At The Disco

10) Rock You Like A Hurricane – The Scorpions

The  best hurricane-related song or energy-related name in the comments wins a $25 burrito-related gift card!