So, it was only right and proper for the APPG Energy Studies Group to hear about decarbonisation of off grid homes last week. Pity only one MP turned up to listen (says a great deal about priorities and does suggest these rural households are out of sight and out of mind).

Anyway, had they been there they would have heard some really positive messages around realistic ways of getting to net zero using a variety of options – renewable liquid fuels, blending, hybrids all offering choice to the consumer.

And as the experts said, offering this choice is key to bringing on board sceptical householders; the choice offers lower cost alternatives to the all-electric zealotry pursued by some and it has the added benefit of being applicable to a wide range of end users.

We often imagine off grid buildings to be quaint thatched cottages, with cornflowers blowing in the breeze. But there are so many other building types who are off the gas grid – hotels, factories, motorway service stations – the list is wide ranging.

Concentrating our efforts on lowering the carbon emissions of the fuels currently used has to be a sensible option. The alternative, requiring wholesale changes of appliances; potentially massive disruption; stressing an already strained rural power network is a recipe for more pain than gain.

Rural Britain needs a voice to steer a sensible course in the energy transition and towards the net zero goal that we want.