CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire is looking into getting cheaper oil from socialist Venezuela, a move Sen. John Sununu calls a disgrace.

Gov. John Lynch’s office acknowledges reaching out to Venezuela, weeks after Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York City began buying oil at a 40-percent discount from Citgo, which is owned by Venezuela’s nationalized oil company.

Maine received a donation of about $5.5 million from Citgo, and Vermont is expected to announce a donation this week.

Lynch’s office told the New Hampshire Sunday News the governor has taken steps to reach out to Venezuela.

“Once we hear from them, we will be in a better position to know whether this is something that would work for New Hampshire,” Walsh said.

The Bush administration is not friendly with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who calls Cuban dictator Fidel Castro a friend and has encouraged Latin American countries to defy Bush.

And Sununu said New Hampshire should stay away from and his oil.

“Hugo Chavez has used the recent spike in heating oil costs as an opportunity to grandstand on the world stage,” said Sununu. “He is selling Venezuela’s assets at cut-rate prices while his country languishes in poverty and essential infrastructure crumbles. This is a disgrace, and New Hampshire should take no part in such a tragic and misguided charade.”

The other three members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, all Republicans, said the matter should be left up to state government. But some questioned Venezuela’s motives.

Money in the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is running low. So far, the state has received $16.4 million this winter, said Celeste Lovett, who oversees the program for the state. The state has set aside another $10 million to supplement the program, if needed.