Energy democracy is a concept developed within the environmental justice movement that pairs the renewable energy transition with efforts to democratize the production and management of energy resources— including the social ownership of energy infrastructure, decentralization of energy systems, and expansion of public participation in energy-related policymaking. Rather than view decarbonization as a purely technological challenge, energy democracy identifies the renewable energy transition as an opportunity to redistribute political and economic power toward egalitarian ends.[1]
Energy democracy has been endorsed by community organizations, think tanks, labor unions, and NGOs as a framework for decarbonization.[2] 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.[3][4]
The exact definition of energy democracy is contested and the term is used to refer to a diverse set of proposals, practices, and ideas.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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).[7]
Public participation
Energy democracy calls for expanding public participation in the renewable energy transition and the broader functionings of the energy sector. In doing so, advocates argue that energy policy and decision-making will better incorporate local knowledge and the environmental justice concerns of local communities.[8][9] Various mechanisms for public participation have been suggested, including the creation of democratically-elected energy oversight boards and the incorporation of public deliberation into the policymaking process.[9]
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.[10] By building and managing energy infrastructure at the community-scale (e.g. community wind and solar farms), communities avoid having to outsource energy generation to privately-owned utilities with regional monopolies.[11] Additionally, advocates argue that decentralization can change community-wide relationships with energy consumption by turning community members into prosumers with a direct stake in questions of production.[12]
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]
a solar farm entity in Aus/ NZ ; who create and facilitate co-op owned community renewable energy farms. https://energydemocracy.net/
References
^Stephens, Jennie C. (2019-03-04). "Energy Democracy: Redistributing Power to the People Through Renewable Transformation". Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. 61 (2): 4–13. doi:10.1080/00139157.2019.1564212. ISSN 0013-9157. S2CID 159067616.
^Burke, Matthew J. (2018). "Shared Yet Contested: Energy Democracy Counter-Narratives". Frontiers in Communication. 3: 22. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2018.00022. ISSN 2297-900X.
^Fei, Charleen; Rinehart, Ian. "Taking Back the Grid: Municipalization Efforts in Hamburg, Germany and Boulder, Colorado" (PDF). Heinrich Boell Foundation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Stephens, Jennie C.; Burke, Matthew J.; Gibian, Brock; Jordi, Elie; Watts, Richard (2018). "Operationalizing Energy Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities in Vermont's Renewable Energy Transformation". Frontiers in Communication. 3: 43. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2018.00043. ISSN 2297-900X.
^Burke, Matthew J. (2018). "Shared Yet Contested: Energy Democracy Counter-Narratives". Frontiers in Communication. 3: 22. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2018.00022. ISSN 2297-900X.
^"PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY DEMOCRACY". ENERGY DEMOCRACY. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
^ abBozuwa, Johanna. "Public Ownership for Energy Democracy". TheNextSystem.org. Democracy Collaborative. Retrieved 2021-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Stephens, Jennie C. (2019-03-04). "Energy Democracy: Redistributing Power to the People Through Renewable Transformation". Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. 61 (2): 4–13. doi:10.1080/00139157.2019.1564212. ISSN 0013-9157. S2CID 159067616.
^ abSorman, Alevgül H.; Turhan, Ethemcan; Rosas-Casals, Marti (2020). "Democratizing Energy, Energizing Democracy: Central Dimensions Surfacing in the Debate". Frontiers in Energy Research. 8: 279. doi:10.3389/fenrg.2020.499888. ISSN 2296-598X.
^Bozuwa, Johanna. "Public Ownership for Energy Democracy". TheNextSystem.org. Democracy Collaborative. Retrieved 2021-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Bozuwa, Johanna. "Taking Back Power: Public Power as a Vehicle Towards Energy Democracy". TheNextSystem.org. Democracy Collaborative.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Stephens, Jennie C.; Burke, Matthew J.; Gibian, Brock; Jordi, Elie; Watts, Richard (2018). "Operationalizing Energy Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities in Vermont's Renewable Energy Transformation". Frontiers in Communication. 3: 43. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2018.00043. ISSN 2297-900X.
^"Participating Unions and Allies". Trade Unions for Energy Democracy.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"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.
February 07, 2023
energy, democracy, concept, developed, within, environmental, justice, movement, that, pairs, renewable, energy, transition, with, efforts, democratize, production, management, energy, resources, including, social, ownership, energy, infrastructure, decentrali. Energy democracy is a concept developed within the environmental justice movement that pairs the renewable energy transition with efforts to democratize the production and management of energy resources including the social ownership of energy infrastructure decentralization of energy systems and expansion of public participation in energy related policymaking Rather than view decarbonization as a purely technological challenge energy democracy identifies the renewable energy transition as an opportunity to redistribute political and economic power toward egalitarian ends 1 Energy democracy has been endorsed by community organizations think tanks labor unions and NGOs as a framework for decarbonization 2 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 3 4 Contents 1 Principles 1 1 Social ownership 1 2 Public participation 1 3 Decentralization 2 Campaigns 3 See also 4 ReferencesPrinciples EditThe exact definition of energy democracy is contested and the term is used to refer to a diverse set of proposals practices and ideas 5 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 6 Social ownership Edit 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 7 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 7 Public participation Edit Energy democracy calls for expanding public participation in the renewable energy transition and the broader functionings of the energy sector In doing so advocates argue that energy policy and decision making will better incorporate local knowledge and the environmental justice concerns of local communities 8 9 Various mechanisms for public participation have been suggested including the creation of democratically elected energy oversight boards and the incorporation of public deliberation into the policymaking process 9 Decentralization Edit 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 10 By building and managing energy infrastructure at the community scale e g community wind and solar farms communities avoid having to outsource energy generation to privately owned utilities with regional monopolies 11 Additionally advocates argue that decentralization can change community wide relationships with energy consumption by turning community members into prosumers with a direct stake in questions of production 12 Campaigns EditIn 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 Edit Energy portal Environment portal Politics portalCommunity 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 Edit Stephens Jennie C 2019 03 04 Energy Democracy Redistributing Power to the People Through Renewable Transformation Environment Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 61 2 4 13 doi 10 1080 00139157 2019 1564212 ISSN 0013 9157 S2CID 159067616 Burke Matthew J 2018 Shared Yet Contested Energy Democracy Counter Narratives Frontiers in Communication 3 22 doi 10 3389 fcomm 2018 00022 ISSN 2297 900X Fei Charleen Rinehart Ian Taking Back the Grid Municipalization Efforts in Hamburg Germany and Boulder Colorado PDF Heinrich Boell Foundation a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Stephens Jennie C Burke Matthew J Gibian Brock Jordi Elie Watts Richard 2018 Operationalizing Energy Democracy Challenges and Opportunities in Vermont s Renewable Energy Transformation Frontiers in Communication 3 43 doi 10 3389 fcomm 2018 00043 ISSN 2297 900X Burke Matthew J 2018 Shared Yet Contested Energy Democracy Counter Narratives Frontiers in Communication 3 22 doi 10 3389 fcomm 2018 00022 ISSN 2297 900X PRINCIPLES OF ENERGY DEMOCRACY ENERGY DEMOCRACY 2017 01 05 Retrieved 2021 10 20 a b Bozuwa Johanna Public Ownership for Energy Democracy TheNextSystem org Democracy Collaborative Retrieved 2021 10 20 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Stephens Jennie C 2019 03 04 Energy Democracy Redistributing Power to the People Through Renewable Transformation Environment Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 61 2 4 13 doi 10 1080 00139157 2019 1564212 ISSN 0013 9157 S2CID 159067616 a b Sorman Alevgul H Turhan Ethemcan Rosas Casals Marti 2020 Democratizing Energy Energizing Democracy Central Dimensions Surfacing in the Debate Frontiers in Energy Research 8 279 doi 10 3389 fenrg 2020 499888 ISSN 2296 598X Bozuwa Johanna Public Ownership for Energy Democracy TheNextSystem org Democracy Collaborative Retrieved 2021 10 20 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Bozuwa Johanna Taking Back Power Public Power as a Vehicle Towards Energy Democracy TheNextSystem org Democracy Collaborative a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Stephens Jennie C Burke Matthew J Gibian Brock Jordi Elie Watts Richard 2018 Operationalizing Energy Democracy Challenges and Opportunities in Vermont s Renewable Energy Transformation Frontiers in Communication 3 43 doi 10 3389 fcomm 2018 00043 ISSN 2297 900X Participating Unions and Allies Trade Unions for Energy Democracy a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Energy democracy amp oldid 1136260118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
