Twelve communities in Britain can start planning which
green energy techniques they wish to deploy after being named as the recipients of a grant of up to £500,000 each.
Solar panels, hydro turbines and wall
insulation could all be on the minds of the winning areas, which could now benefit from lower
gas and electricity bills as their dependence on the fuels lessens.
In total, 22 areas will benefit from the £10 million fund put up by the government's Low Carbon Community Challenge project, after ten villages or boroughs were announced last year.
Investment in green energy technology is designed to cut carbon emissions, save cash on
home energy bills and even allow local people to profit from the excess energy they produce.
Energy and climate change minister Joan Ruddock said: "The huge enthusiasm for the Low Carbon Communities Challenge demonstrates that local people are passionate about building a low carbon future in the UK.
"Today's winners will act as a test bed for green action and show us all what a greener future looks like."
Places set to go green include Hook Norton in Oxforshire, Exmoor National Park, Halton, near Lancaster, Easterside in Middlesbrough and Ballymena.
By producing energy from renewable sources, as well as implementing power-saving techniques such as insulation, residents in the areas are likely to find their carbon footprint is smaller and the invoice from their fuel provider each month is reduced.
Also receiving cash from the grant fund are Cwmclydach, Awel Aman Tawe and Glogue, Hermon and Llanfyrnach - all in Wales - Whitehill-Bordon, Hampshire, Ashton Hayes which is near Chester, Ladock and Grampound Road and, finally, Camphill Community Glencraig.
The Scottish island of Eigg recently won £300,000 as a reward for its green energy outlook.
All 95 residents on Eigg take power from the island's own grid, which is fuelled entirely by the green energy it produces.
