Lynch has reservations about Venezuelan oil
CONCORD, N.H. --New Hampshire is waiting to hear back from Venezuela on the possibility of buying cheap home heating oil, but Gov. John Lynch says he has serious reservations about dealing with that country's leftist government.
Citgo, which is owned by the Venezuelan government, has struck deals to sell discounted heating oil to residents in New York City, Massachusetts and Maine. Rhode Island and Vermont are poised to sign off on their own deals, as well.
But Lynch said he does not want New Hampshire to do anything to advance the agenda of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a critic of the U.S. government who has called President Bush a "madman."
"I'm always willing to look at things," Lynch said. "But I would have serious reservations about this."
Sen. John Sununu opposes dealing with Venezuela. He accused the leftist Chavez of grandstanding by selling Venezuelan oil at a discount while his country remains impoverished.
Lynch spokeswoman Pamela Walsh said Monday the state is gathering information and has made no decisions. She said Lynch's office had not yet received a return call from the Venezuelan embassy.
She said the State Department indicated it has no problems with the discount deals.
"They view Citgo as an American corporation, and this is corporate philanthropy," Walsh said. She said Citgo is a major supplier of oil to the state and region.
High oil prices have hurt the poor despite the unusually warm winter. As of mid-January, 30,910 people had sought help paying their fuel bills, an 11 percent increase over last year, according to Celeste Lovett, fuel assistance program manager for the state.
New Hampshire received $16.4 million this year, compared to $18.3 million last winter, according to state officials.
Some banks are offering "energy loans" to help people with heating bills and some gas and electric utilities are offering deferred payment plans.
Sharon Brody, fuel-assistance manager for Rockingham Community Action, said some callers have used up their fuel aid for the winter already.
"They're starting to panic," Brody said. "Winter is not over; the little groundhog has not even come out yet. We've got a long way to go."
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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com
