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Sustainable Energy Solutions - the social aspects of planning with the community

Sustainable Energy Solutions - the social aspects of planning with the community. November 24-27, 2009, SOAC Conference, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA. AGENDA. Contextual Background – Collaborative Planning Evaluative Analyses – Deliberative Process

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Sustainable Energy Solutions - the social aspects of planning with the community

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  1. Sustainable Energy Solutions - the social aspects of planning with the community November 24-27, 2009, SOAC Conference, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA

  2. AGENDA • Contextual Background – Collaborative Planning • Evaluative Analyses – Deliberative Process • Conclusions – Research & Practice

  3. Project Background “Intelligent Grid-Distributed Energy” –CSIRO. Efficient Electricity Grid – Low Emission! Social Aspects: Planning - Sustainable Energy. ENERGY GOVERNANCE – Public Participation - Planning - energy security - regional communities! Deliberative process & outcomes – Western Power. Abelson’s (2003) Deliberative Evaluative Framework!

  4. Context – Power Working Group • Western Power – 2 regional SW region. • Outrage – Blackouts – Loss Income. • Edge of Grid – Reliability. • Establishment - Public Participation: • Typical stakeholders (Shire, Business, Government/NGOs). • 14 Community A - 3 Community B • Representation - Impacts. • Representatives - Expertise.

  5. Characteristics - Represenatives • Community A - Environmental activists & supporters – Values green solutions! • Community B -Councillor, CEO, Govt – • Neutral – Social/Economic. • WIN – Halt ‘Power Lines’ • Feasibility – Local RE • AGENDA – Learning Curve.

  6. PROCEDURAL ASPECTS - FORUMS • CHAIRED - steep learning curve. • OBSERVE - feedback – Model. • ISSUE – PROBLEMMATIC: • Representation – Differed Markedly: • 14 V 3 representatives. • Human & Social Capital – Community A - Expertise RE systems. • knowledge & resources! • Early Adopters – political network. • Entrepreneurs - energy initiatives.

  7. Community Expertise & Facilitation • Energy Efficient Educational Facility; • Government funding - community-owned wind farm. • Community A - numbers, status & expertise – influence – initiatives. • Community B less numbers & expertise – reliant facilitation skills! • CONSENSUS – feasibility planning • Deliberation - fair procedural process.

  8. Facilitation & Power Dynamics • Community B – Aspirations ignored! - • Disempowerment & alienation – Disengage! • Acknowledged - uneven power dynamics! • CHANGE -power relationship “institution & community”. • INCORPORATED local knowledge - major cultural shift - governance relations! • INFLUENCE – management! • Satisfied - governance & energy goals!

  9. Deliberative V Dominance • Effectiveness - Favoured – Missed Issue! • Powerful - deeply deliberative “open dialogue & reasoned discussion”. • DOMINATED - more powerful - skilled, neutral facilitator. • ATTRIBUTED – naivety! • FAIR - First time! • INEXPERIENCE – relied – experienced – process & initiatives!

  10. DECISION UNDERMINED • EARLY - learning curve – Decisions - Undermined. • (a) participant selection - broader social mix • Representation – environmental! • Social & Economic - debated. • CHALLENGE – AFFECTED - not present! • PROCEDURAL – validity - energy visions. • FORUM - working week -working residents/business. • CHAIRED – AGENDA – Officers!

  11. Wind Farm Initiative - Challenged • E.g. –Validity – challenged: • Wind farm project - Community A. • Backing – Government! • SITING - coastal landscape - powerful sectors! • Development - community support. • Site Selection – contentious! • Shire Rejected - politics.

  12. PROCEDURAL FAILURES • FACTORS – key – Diverse Representation. • Accountability & Transparency Lacking: • Failed - regular feedback & input • acceptance & opposition. • Involved/Consulted - wind farm project! • Anti-Development Solution. • Opposed RE & EE - BARRIER economic growth!

  13. Incorporating Diverse Needs & Interests • BUSINESS: power– applications rejected. • Social & economic- planning framework. • Sustainability- environmental, social, economic and governance! • “consensus is not necessary – but an effective deliberation process must include exposure of conflicts to provide the opportunity to understand it, in order to move respectfully (Carson, 2009). • “… without a very inclusive sample, the process will lack credibility amongst those who should be influenced” (Carson & Hartz-Karp, 2005).

  14. Outcomes Community Engagement • Work in Progress – • E.g. Trust - positive relationship! • Empowered – responsive - Aspirations! • SPARKED - Educational initiatives - awareness -EE - RE technologies. • Proactive - community-wide approach -energy sensitive behavioural change! • Lobbying- Regulatory & Institutional constraints!

  15. Positive Outcomes • Socio-political & institutional – “cultural transformation of mindset” - alternative solutions. • FLEXIBLE – options - coal fired power! • POSITIVE - individual, community & societal! • PROCEDURAL- transparent & accountable. • visions & priorities! • INEQUITY & UNDER-REPRESENTATION: • Location;Chair – rotated; • Feedback & Input; Diverse Representation – Local Media

  16. Community Engagement Practitioners • VIGILANT -power & inclusivity. • DESIGNED - procedural justice! • FAILINGS – beneficial - EE solutions. • Institutional – mindset changes - community aspirations - sustainable energy transition! • Community A – Leading – Strategies – Behavioural Changes – Reduce Consumption & GHG emissions! • FORUM - collaborative planning – groundwork -acceptance -alternative energy solutions.

  17. Barriers – Sustainable Energy Planning • DEMONSTRATE - economic growth not curtailed • fierce local opposition. • DILEMMA - Twin Demands: • - Reducing ghg emissions & energy consumption • Growth – energy demand. • Political pressures: • green sector – frustrated -small scale efforts! • pro-development – planning – inability – current & future growing energy needs.

  18. Conclusion • PRECARIOUS – Plan Energy Security – Options – NOT constrain Economy Regions! • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – VITAL – Strategies! • DIFFICULTIES – Opportunity – Community Ownership – Planning Future! • RESEARCH – “dynamics at play” – Civil Society Sectors! • SOCIALLY JUST - process and outcome -most vulnerable in the power of politics!

  19. Thank you For more information on the iGrid Research program: The website address is www.igrid.net.au This forms part of our overall communications strategy. The website is a vehicle for dissemination cluster research findings and to facilitate the engagement with key industry stakeholders.

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