Countryfile

Rural Power (34x48)

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Rural households are more vulnerable to the current energy crisis and fuel poverty due to lower wages, poorly insulated buildings and a heavy reliance on cars. However, there are some communities that are finding ways to take power into their own hands - literally. Ellie Harrison heads to Bethesda, a village in rural north west Wales built around former slate quarries and the River Ogwen that is now home to a growing community of energy self-sufficiency. With hydro pumps, solar panels, e-transport, energy wardens and repurposed buildings, this local community has found a way not only to try and survive this crisis but ultimately thrive. Ellie visits a community warm space in the Ogwen Valley where locals are reducing their fuel bills through communal dining and shared transport. It's a model village for renewable and sustainable energy alternatives, run by and for the locals, that could potentially be rolled out across rural Britain.