ROCKLAND – Mainers are in real danger of freezing to death this winter because of escalating fuel costs, residents were told at a Rockland Energy Forum on Wednesday.

“Many are going to have a choice of heating or eating,” said participant Hugh Magbie of S.N.O.I.L., which stands for Sundays No Oil. Magbie advocates a one-day a week boycott of oil and gas to reduce the demand and consequently the prices.

“There will be people who will die in their houses this winter,” Magbie warned.

Organized by state Rep. Edward Mazurek, D-Rockland, and Knox County Commissioner Anne Beebe-Center, the Energy Forum was set up to inform the public about solutions to the oil crisis.

“The idea of the Energy Forum is to inform the public about what they can do to help themselves this coming winter,” Mazurek said.

“We know with the escalating oil prices, the way things are going, many people are going to need some help,” he added. “The purpose of the forum is to give residents as much information as possible about some of the things you can do, what you can’t do, and what agencies are available to help.”

Conservation to reduce demand was one of the themes at the forum.

Ray Sisk, Knox County Emergency Management director, suggested neighborhood collaboratives for buying oil in small amounts. He urged residents of neighborhoods to keep an eye on one another, as the possibility of freezing to death this winter is real.

He also recommended subscribing to the Knox County Prescription Drug program available to county residents to help free up money to buy fuel.

Reducing the demand to force prices down was another approach cited at the forum.

“The oil market has fallen in the last 30 days, and the main reason for this is that consumers have figured out how to do more with less oil,” said Ian Burnes, deputy director of Policy and Planning of the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security. He said that people have cut back on all their spending in anticipation of having to heat their homes.

“Consumers throughout the whole world are figuring out how to do more with less oil,” he added, citing recent figures that drivers all over the world drove 9.8 billion fewer miles in May 2008 than they did in May 2007.

“The United States is still the largest oil user of any nation,” he added. “If we can figure out how to save energy, the price of oil will come down, and we’ll buy ourselves some time.”

Burnes said his office’s plan for energy independence for Maine by 2050. His department foresees a pattern of progressive change in energy generation, transmission and storage over the next few decades.

“While there should and will always be a combination of energy resources supplying heat, power and transportation, we intend that Maine move away from its reliance on fossil fuels toward the energy independence and security that can be achieved with alternate, renewable fuels,” he said, stating the position of Gov. John Baldacci.

Susan Ware of Maritime Energy outlined six points of energy conservation, ranging from having an annual furnace tune-up, installing a programmable thermostat, insulating heating pipes, improving home insulation, installing Energy Star replacement windows, to replacing an outdated heating system.

Rockland Fire Chief Charles Jordan Jr. said heating appliances should be properly installed and advised keeping the accompanying brochures, having an annual cleaning service on oil or gas heating appliances and keeping chimneys clean.

“Be certain you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in the house,” he said. “Carbon monoxide can cause a problem if a stove vent becomes covered outside with snow.”

Jennifer Brooks of Penquis talked about fuel assistance and the need to apply early. The agency distributes funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, to low-income homeowners and renters to help pay heating costs.

Rockland General Assistance Administrator Brenda Harrington went over the welfare program and cited the new home-heating fund started by the city council last year. The fund has grown to $3,000 from donations.

“We don’t want to see anyone go cold,” Harrington said.

Debbie Hitchings of Shields Mission Project in Camden explained the Shields Mission is a dedicated fund to help needy residents who do not qualify for assistance from various social service and governmental agencies. Hitchings can be reached at 236-4821, ext. 6.

Other forum participants included Evergreen Home Performance, Camden National Bank, Spectrum Generation of Rockland, Area Interfaith Outreach, Salvation Army, Green EnergyProducts LLC and Local Fuel Co-op.

Beebe-Center said the organizers would like to have a follow-up forum as a result of the information presented Wednesday.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

236-4598