Rural people hit hardest by energy and transport poverty

A new report is calling for changes to be made to net zero and low carbon policy to ensure rural communities are not left more isolated

Rural renewables get £10m funding boost

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy says the money aims to help countryside communities install clean electricity, cut their bills and reduce emissions

UK ‘should reward green farmers post-Brexit’

Brexit offers the UK a once-in-a-generation chance to reform environmental agriculture policies. That’s according to a new report from Policy Exchange, which suggests the existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has reduced productivity and efficiency in the sector. The report says once the UK leaves the EU, all remaining public support should be spent preserving and enhancing the natural […]

US water efficiency up in cities, down in country

US cities are becoming more water-efficient but rural areas are becoming less so. That’s according to a new study from environmental publication Earth’s Future, which assessed per-capita water consumption from 1985 to 2010. States like Washington and Pennsylvania showed consistent improvements in efficiency over the entire period, largely as a result of developing more efficient […]

Rural landlords call for review of new efficiency rules

A group of rural landlords have demanded a review of new energy efficiency legislation to be introduced next year. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents around 30,000 property owners, says the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) need to be clarified as they are currently unenforceable for a large number of properties. The […]

£10m boost for low carbon rural projects in Scotland

The Scottish Government is offering £10 million of funding for innovative low carbon projects in rural parts of the country. Local energy projects that have the potential to boost energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions can apply for up to £100,000 from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). The funding targets remote and rural […]

US funding to help 821 farms save energy

Funding to help 821 rural businesses and farms in the US reduce energy usage has been announced today. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to provide $43.2 million (£32.9m) in loan guarantees and $11.6 million (£8.8m) in grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP has provided more than $854 (£648.5m) in […]

US issues $72m for rural energy projects

The US has issued $72 million (£48m) for six energy projects in rural areas of the country. Three of the projects are solar, where $30 million (£20m) of the funding will be spent. They will generate 30MW of power in total for local communities in North Carolina. Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack […]

US invests in smart power upgrades in rural areas

The US Government has announced funding worth $1.4 billion (£0.9m) to improve the delivery of electricity to rural communities. It includes $106 million (£66m) to install smart grid technologies and $3 million (£1.9m) for renewable energy systems, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). A total of 21 states will benefit from the funding, […]

$100m to improve energy access in rural Bangladesh

The World Bank is providing a $600 million (£353.5m) loan to fund a project that aims to improve access to electricity in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The credit for the Rural Electricity Transmission and Distribution Project (T&D) will support the construction of new transmission and distribution networks and substations as well as the upgrading […]