The bulk of Berkshire County’s energy comes from the burning of oil, coal and gas. This dependence on fossil fuels leads to significant economic and political risks. The United States is heavily reliant on imports to satisfy its energy needs. Everyday, America sends more than $250 million to overseas oil and natural gas producers. If this money stayed in the United States, it would be enough to employ at least 2 million American workers, as well as providing valuable tax revenues for America’s schools.

Our dependence on foreign sources of energy leaves the U.S. economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the price of foreign supply. Three of the last U.S. recessions (1974-75, 1980, and 1991) were immediately preceded by a sharp increase in the price of oil. Furthermore, many major foreign reserves are located in places of political instability, requiring us to spend billions of dollars each year to protect foreign oil supplies.

Our use of oil, coal and gas also leads to millions of tons of air pollution each year. The National Resource Defense Council estimates that annually, diseases triggered or aggravated by these pollutants cause the premature death of 64,000 Americans; roughly four times the number of people killed in drunk driving accidents each year. This considerable cost is not represented in the price of our energy, and instead is born by the health care system and the families of those affected.

In addition, greenhouse gas emissions are leading to rapid changes in our planet’s climate. The EPA estimates that temperatures in Massachusetts are likely to rise between 1 and 8 °F over the next century. If these estimates prove correct, this change will likely result in rising sea levels submerging more than 65 acres of Massachusetts coastland each year, and the loss of much of the Berkshires’ brilliant fall foliage as 30% to 60% of the maple, beech and birch forests in Massachusetts are replaced by more temperature resistant species like pine, oak, and ash.

To learn more about our current situation, click here.