The Rural Blog

A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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Wind farm projects are 'teetering on the brink,' despite soaring electricity demand

When smartly planned, windfarms can be adaptable, efficient and incorporate crops, a new study says

Wildfire smoke takes a physical and mental health toll on rural residents, and can be linked to suicides, study shows

Every hurricane gets a number, but what does it mean? Hurricane winds aren't the only extreme danger.

Dry, loose dirt at corn-planting time can lead to dust storms; 'erratic winds' and zero visibility make driving impossible

Democrats strip from Covid relief bill derecho aid for farmers, help for seafood processors

Series examines transition of coal country economy as coal declines

Proposal for what would be largest U.S. wind farm, already under construction, is dealt a potentially fatal blow

GateHouse Media package on the downsides of living near wind farms up for Scripps Howard multimedia award

Rural schools may have been hurt by state tax incentives for wind farms in Kansas

Wind-energy growth could stall under tax proposals

Wind companies offer job training to former oil, gas and coal workers in Wyoming

Iowa Republican senator slams energy secretary for study that undermines wind energy

Rise of wind energy in Iowa creating a divide among rural residents

Renewable energy outpacing coal for jobs; industry says wind, solar can boost rural communities

Rule allowing 30-year wind farm permits expected to cause more deaths of bald eagles, other birds

Wind-farm turbines are killing more bats than previously thought, says United Kingdom study

Vermont asst. attorney general says cash payments to get residents to vote for wind farm were legal

Alternative energy in Wyoming doesn't mean alternative jobs for displaced coal miners

Don't infer from Obama line that wind power is cheaper; only in a few places, and for new power