Energy democracy
Energy democracy is a concept developed within the
Energy democracy has been endorsed by community organizations, think tanks, labor unions, and NGOs as a framework for decarbonization.[4] Energy Democracy began in western Europe between 2000 and 2010 and has become a worldwide practice and point of reference except Asia. [5] The concept is also associated with a number of campaigns in Europe and North America calling for the municipalization of energy companies and democratization of their governance structures.[6][7]
In the United States, the term “energy democracy” has become more widespread as calls for it greatly increased in the 2010s. The American branch of energy democracy builds on the foundation of a 2017 “Energy Democracy Symposium” in Utah.[1] The number of publications on energy democracy peaked in the US in 2018, which can be correlated to a growing social demand.[1]
Principles
The exact definition of energy democracy is contested and the term is used to refer to a diverse set of proposals, practices, and ideas.[4] However, advocates most often define energy democracy as embodying progressive principles they believe should guide contemporary energy policy and governance— namely social ownership, public participation, and decentralization.[8]
Social ownership
Advocates of energy democracy support a transition toward social ownership of energy companies and infrastructure, arguing that existing privately-owned utilities are poorly-suited to undertake rapid decarbonization and address concerns of environmental justice.[9] The call for social ownership encompasses both expansions of public ownership (i.e. municipalization and nationalization) and the promotion of forms of collective ownership (e.g. energy cooperatives).[9]
Public participation
Energy democracy calls for expanding public participation in the renewable energy transition and the broader functionings of the
Decentralization
Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy technologies allow for energy generation to be physically decentralized; advocates of energy democracy believe this energy decentralization could be a tool for empowering local communities and deconcentrating wealth and power.
Campaigns
In 2012, a global coalition of trade unionists founded Trade Unions for Energy Democracy to organize workers in support of climate action and a just transition to renewable energy. As of 2021, the network claims a membership of 89 trade union bodies in 26 countries.[13]
In 2021, the New York Energy Democracy Alliance joined other state advocacy organizations in forming the Public Power NY Coalition. The coalition is currently advocating for the passage of the New York Utility Democracy Act (S.B. S7243), which would municipalize the New York's private utility companies and create democratically-elected utility boards to oversee their operations.[14][15]
See also
- Community solar farm
- Community wind energy
- Economic democracy
- RAPS
- Soft energy path
- Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network
- a solar farm entity in Aus/ NZ; who create and facilitate co-op owned community renewable energy farms. https://energydemocracy.net/
References
- ^ ISSN 2214-6296.
- S2CID 148774086.
- ^ S2CID 159067616.
- ^ ISSN 2297-900X.
- ^ map of global energy democracy projects, https://energy-democracy.net/energy-democracy.net/map/index.html
- ^ Fei, Charleen; Rinehart, Ian. "Taking Back the Grid: Municipalization Efforts in Hamburg, Germany and Boulder, Colorado" (PDF). Heinrich Boell Foundation.
- ^ ISSN 2297-900X.
- ^ "PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY DEMOCRACY". ENERGY DEMOCRACY. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ a b c Bozuwa, Johanna. "Public Ownership for Energy Democracy". TheNextSystem.org. Democracy Collaborative. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ ISSN 2296-598X.
- .
- ^ Bozuwa, Johanna. "Taking Back Power: Public Power as a Vehicle Towards Energy Democracy". TheNextSystem.org. Democracy Collaborative.
- ^ "Participating Unions and Allies". Trade Unions for Energy Democracy. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "NYS Right To Efficiency | NYEDA Projects, Campaigns | New York Energy Democracy Alliance". energydemocracyny.org. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
- ^ "NY State Senate Bill S7243". NY State Senate. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2021-10-21.