Chilling forecast for keeping homes warm (Maine)

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050904heating.shtml

This heating season is shaping up to be the most expensive for Mainers in a quarter century, as record petroleum prices inflate the cost of oil, gas, electricity and even firewood.

That bleak outlook was true even before Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast early last week and dealt a severe blow to critical offshore drilling platforms and vitally important refineries in Louisiana and Mississippi. It may prove to be an understatement if price hikes caused by the hurricane hold up.

"I was worried about this winter before Hurricane Katrina, and this certainly hasn't done anything to lessen my worry," said Beth Nagusky, the head of Maine's Office of Energy Independence and Security.

A steady rise in energy prices over the first half of the year, combined with the post-hurricane spike last week, means that Mainers should "prepare for what could be a very hard winter," Nagusky said.

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I have Beech, ash, and some oak that I'll be cutting/splitting over the next few weeks...mighty happy I have 2 woodstoves to heat the house this winter.

a lot of people in Maine didn't bother to put in a wood stove when they built their houses.

I had a few friends that did this and thought they were crazy.

All but one of my brothers and my Mom burn wood (two with central heat, one with 4 wood stoves scattered about his house).

One brother has a Waterford wood cook stove that he uses all the time.

My Mom's system will work even if the power goes out (convective circulation), she also has stove in the kitchen and 10 cords of wood in the basement.

I'm not too worried about them this winter...

My financial guy sez: your heating costs this winter will double. (I live in Boston, MA.)