Will Maine Ever Ban Wood Stoves Like Other States are Discussing?

In Maine, burning wood is life.

Maine is one of those weird states where there are people who burn it in some capacity, year-round. Sure, we have our fire pits all summer, if not all four seasons, but a good portion of us burn wood in winter to keep the oil furnace from kicking on. With the cost of fuel these days, a season's worth of wood costs about as much as a month of oil.

Honestly, burning wood is absolutely part of our culture. It's not just a convenience we rely on, it's practically winter therapy. I know I feel better when I have the stove going. Not just because I'm saving money, but there's a comfort zone that it appeals to. It makes me feel homey and relaxed. But is it under threat?

Some states are seriously considering a total ban on burning wood.

It seems crazy, but for instance, in New York they're actually considering a ban on burning wood. And not because it causes fires and can be dangerous if not used properly, but because they're trying to cut down on airborne carcinogens/toxic emissions.

There've already been talks in Maine about banning gas stoves, so some might theorize that wood stoves aren't far behind. Although in Maine, our gas stove ban seems to revolve more around safety issues, as opposed to just greenhouse-gas emissions. Maine already changed the rules about wood stoves you can buy, back in 2015.

What was that all about?

Many older wood stoves back before 2015 had absolutely no emission standards whatsoever. So the state had to draw a line in the sand as to when the old stoves couldn't be sold anymore. Mainers had plenty of opinions back then, and I'm sure there would be very strong feelings if wood stoves went away.

Heck, I'd be bummed. I have two in my home and depend on them heavily to offset the cost of oil. Taking them away would be insane. To be fair, currently there is no plan to do so, but with environmental changes all the time, and other states hopping on board, it's conceivable it could happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

How many of these places have a wood stove or fireplace to add to the coziness?