MONTPELIER, Vt. -
In a day when the temperature outside broke records across Vermont, lawmakers coincidently focused on climate change.
"From now on we need to know that Irene is what nature is capable of producing for us," said climate expect Bill McKibben.
McKibben addressed house and senate members.
Before that, a number of businesses shared concerns.
"From agriculture to industry, everybody is affected," said State Rep. Norman McAllister.
McAllister has spent his life working in dairy.
He says the industry has changed, the warmer than average temperatures have farmers planting their crops earlier.
"Vermont is pretty resilient, we tend to adapt," said McAllister.
It's not just dairy, maple producers are investing in technology to extract the sap months earlier.
And ski resorts have become four season destinations.
To give you an idea of the change, temperatures in the Champlain Valley have been even or above normal during the winter months over the past three years.
Snowfall is also unpredictable.
Three years ago the Champlain Valley saw a large amount, but that dropped dramatically last year, and as for 2013, it's only slightly ahead of the average pace.
To give you an even more immediate example take the temperature change in Montpelier where last Wednesday it was a high of -2 and 7 days later it's in the 50's.
If the trend continues, business leaders told lawmakers they need to ask questions before they invest in areas that might be prone to wild weather events.
McKibben also addressed the idea of a three-year moratorium on wind projects.
While he doesn't like mountain tops used that way, McKibben says if climate change isn't addressed, the damage will be more severe than any wind turbines.
