Climate change could hit Berkshires economy hard

By the end of the century, the Berkshire County economy -- much like the global economy -- may be forever altered by the effects of climate change. Some local economic changes have already begun in response to impacts expected from climate change in the coming decades.

Land-use planners and policy specialists in the insurance industry are preparing for changes likely to be brought on by warmer temperatures and more severe weather events. Local farmers and business owners are already looking to their future, many doubtful about the climate change concept, but still determined to build revenue streams that will withstand climate changes or compensate for weather-generated losses.

In one example of a specific local economic effect likely to result from climate change, Cameron Wake, associate professor with the Institute of Earth, Oceans and Space at the University of New Hampshire and a lead author of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists,It is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of industrial extractor, tumble dryer ect. had a dire assessment of the local ski industry: "By the end of the century, the only ski areas that remain viable [in the Northeast] will be in the western mountains of Maine."

During the past seven years, Jiminy Peak has been aggressive in finding ways to conserve energy and expand its renewable energy production, to the extent of investing $4 million installing a utility-grade, 1.5-megawatt wind turbine near the summit. They also established a renewable energy development company, EOS Ventures. Their efforts have saved the resort thousands of dollars in energy costs and prevented the emission of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

For more than 40 years, Jiminy Peak's owner, Brian Fairbank, and his snow-making crews have been pushing the cutting edge of snow-making technology, which has come a long way in that time.

Tyler Fairbank noted that continued advancement in snow-making technology is one effort that can hedge against shorter seasons and warmer temperatures to a certain extent.

In the meantime, investment has continued in summer amusement facilities that will help build new revenue streams that could expand if summers become longer and winters shorter.

"What we can do is make smart decisions that help our business grow and thrive while being conscious of the possibilities," Tyler Fairbank said. "In 25 years, I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Climate change has already affected everyday lives of land use planners like Nat Karns, executive director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. In 2007, Karns served on the Massachusetts Climate Change Task Force.

"We've seen the incidents starting already," Karns said. "Our rainfall amounts over the past 50 years have shown a steady upward climb. We know now that every storm water system installed in the last three decades are obsolete. Culverts have been overwhelmed, bridges have washed out, and we're going to see more and more of that."

The Regional Planning Commission is seeking funding to do an inventory of the county's storm water drainage system "so we know where we're going to have the most problems and the cost of upgrading," Karns said.

Local planners are already using different standards in planning higher capacities for storm water drainage and transportation routes that allow for better mass transit and more walking and bicycling. State building codes have also veered more toward sustainability by requiring replanting of trees, low-energy fixtures and solar panels on large commercial structures, Karns said.