农民日报：河北农村取暖问题，不能再耽搁了

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the heating difficulties faced by elderly residents in rural Hebei during winter due to high natural gas prices and decreasing subsidies, emphasizing the urgent need for effective solutions to ensure their well-being [1][6]. Group 1: Heating Costs and Subsidies - Since 2016, rural Hebei has implemented "coal-to-gas" initiatives to address environmental concerns, initially supported by substantial subsidies [1]. - Natural gas prices in rural Hebei remain high, ranging from 3.15 to 3.4 yuan per cubic meter, leading to winter heating costs between 5,000 to 10,000 yuan for a 100 square meter home [2]. - Subsidies have decreased from 1 yuan per cubic meter at the start to 0.2 yuan currently, making heating unaffordable for many families, especially given their annual income of only 10,000 to 20,000 yuan [3]. Group 2: Impact on Vulnerable Populations - The elderly, particularly those with limited mobility and health issues, are the most affected by the inability to afford heating, with monthly pensions insufficient to cover even a season's heating costs [5]. - The article stresses that ensuring warmth during winter is a fundamental right for rural elderly residents, highlighting the need for immediate action to address their heating challenges [5][6]. Group 3: Proposed Solutions - The article calls for the exploration of various heating technologies, including solar heating and clean coal stoves, to prevent the elderly from suffering in the cold [7]. - It emphasizes the necessity of maintaining and increasing subsidies to support rural elderly residents and vulnerable groups, ensuring that the transition to cleaner energy does not compromise their basic needs [7].