State representative candidate Tom Roache is calling on the state to help local community groups form cooperatives to buy heating oil at a discount.

Roache, an independent running in the Plainville-Wrentham-Norfolk area, said the state role would be limited and temporary.

He said he wants the state to provide training and a small amount of startup money for advertising to get the cooperatives started.

Once established, the cooperatives would seek members and ask heating oil companies to competitively bid for businesses.

The cooperatives would be run by local volunteers, not the state, he said. "We're talking about a very limited, temporary government role," he said.

A similar group has formed in Weston, and customers are saving 50 cents to $1 per gallon, he said.

Roache, who is running against state Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, said there are already programs that help low-income residents with heating fuel costs, but those programs are limited to families making $28,000 a year or less.

"What about the middle class? The middle class is being crushed," he said.

Ross said he applauds any effort to help people afford heating fuel, but also noted Republicans in the House have proposed a number of tax credits and measures that have been rejected by the majority Democrats.

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.