Renewable energy, which attracted more than 1 trillion dollars of investment in the past decade, is now an important source of growth and  jobs for many rural regions. Using case studies assessing 16 regions* in Europe, Canada and United States, Linking Renewable Energy to Rural Development shows that producing renewable energy can stimulate rural economies but only when linked to local industries that already exist. 

Though producing wind, sun and biomass energy does increase rural tax bases and services, encourages local skills and innovation, and creates cheap energy, regions should not neglect their traditional sources of jobs and growth. For example, as most long-term employment related to renewable energy goes to international researchers and manufacturers, regions should ensure that renewable energy production does not have a negative impact on their more lucrative, and job-rich, sectors such as tourism.  Similarly, farmers and forest owners should see green energy as a way to diversify and augment their incomes, but not the sole source.

Linking Renewable Energy to Rural Development also warns against high, long-term, renewable energy subsidies which drive up the cost of energy, encourage unnecessary destruction of farms and forests, and attract investors who will abandon their projects as soon as the levels come down.

The case studies are: Puglia and Abruzzo in Italy; Extremadura in Spain; Tromso in Sweden; Regions Sjaelland in Denmark; North Karelia in Finland; Mellestra Norland in Sweden; Scotland; Fryslân in the Netherlands; Québec and Prince Edward Island in Canada; Iowa, Oregon, Maine, Vermont and Tennessee in the United States.