直击河北农民取暖：“烧不起”的冬天

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the struggles of rural residents in Hebei, particularly in terms of heating costs during winter, as many families cannot afford to use natural gas for heating, leading them to resort to alternative and often unsafe methods for warmth [6][22][41] Group 1: Heating Costs and Economic Strain - The cost of natural gas for heating in rural Hebei ranges from 3.15 to 3.4 yuan per cubic meter, significantly higher than in Beijing (2.61 yuan) and Tianjin (2.86 yuan), placing a financial burden on farmers with lower incomes [22][23] - Families like that of Kong Xuan face heating costs of 4,000 to 5,000 yuan for the winter, with estimates suggesting that continuous use of a gas boiler could exceed 15,000 yuan for the season, compared to only 2,000 yuan for coal in previous years [25][26][28] - Many elderly residents, who often rely on minimal agricultural income, find that heating costs can consume their entire annual earnings from farming, leading to severe financial distress [28][30] Group 2: Alternative Heating Methods - Due to the high costs of natural gas, many rural residents resort to burning tree roots or corn cobs for warmth, with some even secretly using coal despite regulations against it [11][39] - The article describes scenes of elderly villagers gathering around makeshift fires, highlighting the lengths to which they go to stay warm, often at the expense of safety and comfort [9][12][41] - Some elderly individuals have received special permissions to use clean coal for heating due to their financial hardships, indicating a gap in the implementation of the "coal-to-gas" policy [39][41] Group 3: Policy Impact and Community Response - The "coal-to-gas" initiative aimed at reducing air pollution has led to a significant shift in heating methods, but the lack of affordable alternatives has left many families in a precarious situation [34][39] - The withdrawal of government subsidies for natural gas has exacerbated the issue, making it increasingly difficult for rural families to afford heating [23][34] - The article notes that while some areas have seen a reduction in enforcement of coal-burning regulations, the fear of penalties still deters many from reverting to coal [39]