Soaring heating oil prices put struggling Maine families in a bind

53 minutes ago 3

In Freeport, Maine, Chris and Cheryl Oliver are making pugnacious choices arsenic they effort to marque ends conscionable connected astir $60,000 a year.

"Am I going to get nutrient this week, oregon americium I going to get state this week?" Cheryl Oliver told CBS News.

Then came different blow. Just arsenic diesel and state prices have risen considerably since the commencement of the Iran war, the terms of heating lipid successful Maine has soared from $3.34 per gallon 1 twelvemonth agone to $5.97 today, a leap of astir 79%.

The Olivers qualified for 100 gallons of escaped heating lipid done a section assemblage center, assistance worthy astir $700. Unfortunately, it inactive won't get them done the winter.

"I was panicking, like, however are we going to capable our vessel and however are we going to enactment warm?" Cheryl Oliver asked.

Nationwide, much than 4 cardinal households usage heating lipid arsenic their superior substance source, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and of those, 82% are concentrated successful the Northeast.

Tony DiMarco, cofounder of the Freeport Wood Bank, a nutrient pantry of sorts for firewood, said the request close present is "extremely high." Donations support it running.

"I don't deliberation radical afloat admit however large of an interaction it's going to person erstwhile heating lipid costs doubly arsenic overmuch arsenic it did past year, and radical are already spending arsenic overmuch arsenic they did past year," DiMarco said. "I conscionable don't deliberation radical afloat grasp the severity of the problem."

The Freeport Wood Bank is 1 of astir 17 akin wood banks crossed the state. Freeport tin proviso astir 50 families with firewood, but DiMarco says it volition tally retired of its proviso by the mediate of winter.

This week, DiMarco delivered 2 escaped cords of firewood to assistance the Olivers agelong their heating oil. It's a lifeline for a household already struggling. Chris Oliver mislaid 1 of his legs to diabetes and aboriginal suffered a bosom attack.

"Tony and that place, they're unbelievable," an affectional Chris Oliver said. "I don't cognize without them if we'd person heat."

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