Every year more than $1.5 billion is spent on energy in the Adirondacks
Almost every cent of that goes somewhere else, and fast. A 20 percent reduction in our energy bill would free up as much money in our region as the total labor income from our biggest industry, tourism. It would, in effect, be the same as doubling every paycheck for every person who works in tourism and adding that to our economy. And that's just for a 20 percent cut.
In the next twenty years there are going to be major shifts in the ways people make, use, buy and store energy. ADKCAP is working to help the economy of the Adirondacks by making sure our region is a player in this future. We want to be in a position to take advantage of the new opportunities. We want to use the current climate to help turn on the power in the Adirondacks. There is no reason the Adirondacks need to be left out of the advances that will come to other more populous regions.
We know the we have the chance to be one of the first energy independent regions in the country because we have done the math. By cutting waste and increasing our use of renewables we can change our economy. We can make and buy energy locally, and cut our imports of energy, including the energy we use shipping in food that could be grown by local farmers.
ADKCAP is grassroots, and local, and growing.
This professional study below shows where the energy dollars in the Adirondacks are spent from hot water to gasoline for cars. The first of its kind regional audit gives us a way to see where the biggest losses are and go after them. Home heating and hot water are big users in the Adirondacks and show big promise for potential savings. You can read the entire final Adirondack Energy & GHG Inventory below.
Read the Executive SummaryRead the ReportRead the Adirondack Regional Assessment Project ReportRead The Nature Conservancy's report Climate Change in the Champlain BasinClimAID Report
In November 2011, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a new study, ClimAID, documenting the effect of climate change on NYS.
In November 2011, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a new study, ClimAID, documenting the effect of climate change on NYS.
The report notes that each region will experience different impacts; the Adirondacks will see the following:
• Loss of high-elevation plants, animals, and ecosystem types
• Winter recreation declines; summer opportunities increase
• Milk production declines, though less than other regions
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Baseline
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2050s
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2080s
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Temperature
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42ºF
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+3.0 to 5.5º
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+4.0 to 9.0º
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Precipitation
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38in
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0 to +5%
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+5 to 15%
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(See p. 5)
Read a synopsis of the report here.
Read the entire report here.