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Andy Shepard of Freeport was the founder of the Maine Winter Sports Center, which bought and redeveloped Bigrock and Black Mountain, as well as building the 10th Mountain in Fort Kent and the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle. He was also the CEO and general manager responsible for reopening Saddleback Mountain.
I was raised by Mainers who ingrained in me the simple value, “if you make a mess, you should clean it up.” There’s an abundance of irrefutable evidence over the last 60 years demonstrating the fossil fuel industry knew their practices were changing our climate in an unsustainable trajectory. Rather than changing course, they lied about that impact and continued to pursue profit over people and planet. In keeping with Maine values, they should be held responsible for cleaning up the mess they’ve made, and passing LD 1870 to establish a Climate Superfund in Maine would be a step toward making that happen.
Over my 50-year career, I spent a lot of my time building and reopening ski areas in Maine. Most recently, I was part of the buying group that got Saddleback open, serving as the CEO and general manager. Operating a ski mountain is never easy, but it’s made much harder by the climate change impacts we’ve seen these past several years. Shorter winters, more volatile weather and warmer temperatures have put tremendous pressure on the winter recreation industry.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor recreation has seen rapid growth, with winter sports significantly contributing to Maine’s GDP. Our ski areas and snowmobile trails are crucial not just for recreation; they are vital to the identity and economy of our rural communities. However, they now face severe threats from climate change. Immediate infrastructure investments are essential to preserve this critical industry for future generations, and the financial burden must not fall solely on Maine taxpayers.
Though this year has seen favorable snow conditions, we must not confuse short-term weather patterns with long-term climate trends. Historical data reveals that Maine winters are increasingly prone to destructive rain events due to climate change. We’ve witnessed a rise in the intensity and frequency of these storms, which devastate our recreational opportunities and compromise our state’s infrastructure.
During the intense storms of the 2023-24 winter, my wife and I encountered firsthand the dangers of these changing conditions. My wife drove through Rumford just before a storm tragically claimed the lives of two women on the bridge she crossed. While attending meetings in Portland, we learned that our return route to Rangeley was washed out, stranding us for three days. On our return, we discovered that the recent upgrades made by MaineDOT on Route 4 were insufficient, with sections nearly completely washed away.
These events illustrate how the increased severity and frequency of storms have overwhelmed Maine’s capacity to respond effectively. Repairing the damage on the path to Rangeley has already cost millions, and the projected expenses for upgrading the statewide infrastructure are staggering. The sustainability of the winter recreation industry — and by extension, the quality of life in Maine — is at a critical juncture.
It is time the fossil fuel corporations causing this problem step up to help states like Maine respond effectively. LD 1870, which is currently before the state Legislature for consideration, would create a Climate Superfund dedicated to building resilient infrastructure and responding to climate impacts in Maine. The program would be funded entirely from fees collected from the world’s largest fossil fuel corporations for their share of damages. None of these businesses are located in Maine, but they have made a mess here they need to clean up.
