A special legislative session on energy is not a bad idea – if lawmakers have some concrete steps they plan to quickly take. But Maine, with its lack of excess funds and few indigenous energy resources can do little to lower fuel costs for the coming winter. It doesn’t have the financial resources or the infrastructure, for example, to purchase and stockpile heating oil for those who will be unable to afford it.

Ideas that have been put forth for discussion during such a session include: increased financial assistance for low-income residents and bonds to pay for weatherization work. While these are all helpful, they are likely to be small steps compared to the high heating bills – in many cases nearly double last year’s – that face the state’s residents. They also are steps that can be taken in January when the Legislature convenes for its next session.

It is good that lawmakers want to help, but they must be realistic about what they can do. Likewise, the public needs to be realistic in its expectation of elected officials – at all levels. Politicians, most notably Republican presidential candidate John McCain, have talked as if lifting a ban on off-shore drilling along much of the U.S. coast would quickly lower fuel prices. If the moratorium were lifted – and there are many reasons it shouldn’t be – it would be years before any oil or natural gas reached consumers.

Closer scrutiny of the commodities markets may be needed, for reasons other than soaring prices, but it won’t dramatically drive down fuel prices either.

What consumers don’t want to hear – and politicians don’t want to say – is that Americans need to use less gasoline, natural gas, petroleum and other fossil fuels. Driving less uses less gasoline. Using less electricity reduces demand for natural gas, the source of much of Maine’s electricity. Buying fewer plastic goods will reduce petroleum demand.

As for heating, encouraging conservation and efficiency must be part of the state’s plan. Neither necessarily requires a special session, which would cost the state $40,000 a day. Through programs such as Efficiency Maine and the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, these efforts can be jump-started.

Meeting in Augusta this summer will produce a lot of hot air, but that won’t keep Mainers’ homes warm come January. If lawmakers want to do something about heating oil prices, they would be better off volunteering to weatherize homes.