Maine residents depending less on oil (45% reduction in 5 years)

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/depending-less-on-oil_2011-11-13.html

Maine residents slashed their heating oil use by 45 percent between 2004 and 2009, a dramatic reduction that's highlighting the combined power of rising prices, stepped-up weatherization and new heating technologies.

Maine remains more dependent on heating oil than any other state in the nation, causing a drain on the economy and on household budgets during a period of record-high prices. The number of Maine homes warmed primarily with oil still hovers in the 70 percent range, according to the latest U.S. Census data, down from 80 percent in 2000.

But this statistical dependence belies just how much the state has weaned itself from oil heat in recent years.

It's an accomplishment that the director of Maine's energy office says isn't widely recognized, but is very significant. Just because a household retains an oil furnace as a central heating system, he said, doesn't necessarily mean the unit is running all the time.

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[Scuba]

1. My unscientific observations suggest that many are burning wood pellets....

... is natural gas still unavailable throughout most of the State?

[jpak]

2. Yes and yes - but there are several proposals to bring n-gas pipelines to central Maine

mostly to benefit paper mills - and homeowners by default

lots people burning pellets these days too.

:hi: