Social and Community Aspects of IG-DE

Dr Diane Costello, Curtin UniversityPerth Western Australia

August 31, 2010 – Customs House, Brisbane, Queensland

Project 5 - Objectives & Background

Social & Community Aspects.Barriers,opportunities, issues..Psych, socio-eco,political- energy policy.Methodology: Data Sources

Regional Power Working Group – Community Engagement – IG-DE transition – edge of grid.Stakeholder Interviews Online SMEs Energy Survey – Two Communities.

Analytical Framework

Thematic & Cultures Theory.Energy Consumers:(1) Hierarchists; (2) Egalitarians; (3) IndividualistsDiscourse: energy attitudes & behaviours. Not Stereotype – multiplicity worldviews - flexible IG-DE policy.Hierarchists: “little sense of individual responsibility”.

•“climate change & development of RE are government responsibilities”.

Energy Cultures - Discourse

•“Australian businesses will be disadvantaged if overseas economies do not regulate carbon emissions”.•“financial incentives are vital to take up energy efficiency and solar power generation”.

•Egalitarians – “personal responsibility”. •“actions on climate change is a moral choice to protect the planet”!

•“we must change our behaviour to protect future generations”

•“we must act now to reduce our carbon emissions”.

Energy Cultures - Discourse

Individualists – absence -personal responsibility -delegate responsibility.

•“there is no point subscribing to green energy -you don’t know if it is RE or coal fired“.

• “it is not practical to pursue energy efficient operations if other businesses don’t do the same”. •“the big polluters (Corporations/industry) should be mainly responsible for protecting the environment”. • “government is responsible for delivering a secure and reliable energy supply”.

Community Engagement - Main Findings

INVOLVING stakeholders - halt plans - upgrade powerlines.

Funds Diverted!INTERACTION – state; Utility & local government. DSM initiatives (CFL; fuel switching; smart meter trials, educational forums, EE appliance replacements, load control trials, etc).FACILITATION: community-owned wind farm - technical, regulatory,economic assistance.

Decentralized Governance

ENABLED Transition - Awareness!Energy Efficiency & Reduction GHG!!

Salience & Acceptance – Egalitarians.Hierarchists – Opposed –Unrepresentative.

energy decisions–threaten economy.Barrier - economic growth/development.social, economic & environmental sustainability – energy options.

Local Governance Structure

Individualists: delegated - community responsibility

RE technologies - reliable or affordable. Inequality - afford - cheap electricity.

Successful: inclusive representation - Environmental, Social & Economic - IG-DE.

Concerns - devolution of responsibility, energy security, affordability, barriers economic development.

Decentralisation – mechanisms: transparency, consultation/feedback; accountability.

Online SMEs Survey – Key Findings242 SMEs – C-Change, Environment, Knowledge. Environmental Orientation: Support-Awareness

Environment ‘PAR’ Economic Sustainability

Economy; Environment & Energy PolicyAttachment to Place & Low profits.Policy Actions: Regulatory & Market Reforms – integration.Hierarchists/Egalitarians – CPRS, RE subsidies & green investment.

Cultural Change - consumer consumption & alternative green industry.

Individualists– Distrustful - Taxes.Opposed CPRS – [RETS; CC&S].

Green Awareness & Behavioural ActionsResponsibility (Climate Change) – Actions!!.

Attribution Responsibility – Climate Change

HINDER: Leased – Mobile – Energy Use.

Motivation: Altruistic; Economic - green image.

Barriers: Affordability & Low Priority.

Pragmatic Attitude: CC Adaptation.

Morally Responsible – Powerless!

INSTITUTIONAL CO-ORDINATION.

Hiearchists & Individualists – leadership –green behaviours.

Egalitarians: Individual Responsibility & Civic Action – Influence.

Community Acceptance of IG-DE

•Institutional Coordination – on-site generation.

Energy Sources – Desired for Future

•RE Sources! - Nuclear – Stigma – safety (waste, health, terrorism).

Support - Policy & Technological Solutions

•Understanding - Support - least detrimental!

Economic & Informational Barriers - IG-DE

•Self Reliant - affordable/informed choices.•Entrepreneur– Roof Space – PVC/micro-wind turbine.

INCENTIVES - Facilitate IG-DE

Worldviews & Willingness to Adopt IG-DE

•Incentives - Adopt!!•Punish?•Reduction – Energy Usage.•Affordability – EE Strategies.•RE Incentives – inequality – Denied Access.•Challenge – Policies.

Trust in Government – Energy Sustainability

Political – Frustration & Confusion – Policy.RE – 3 New 2 Refurbished- Coal plants.Debate – Certainty - Vacuum Policy!!

Awareness & Information Source - Energy

Information Source & Trust

Place-bound - social networks – sourcing information.Internet?

Information & Educational Campaigns.

Information, Education & Social Identity

Trust: Source - Communicated – “Social Identity”. Hierarchists: simple practical solutions.Motivation: economic incentives & energy savings.

not responsive - gravity posed to humans! stigma –environmentalist - neutral language.

Environmental organizations (64%) - ACCESS.Shire; CIC, Tourism – trust - not threatened. Individualists - sceptical -Environmentalist appeals!

Technocentric & Economic incentives – EE & green marketing.Local media – govt/industry networks.

Communicating Energy Information

Egalitarians - Science – media!Environmental, scholarly & internet.

Eco-centric & techno-centric – catastrophe!LINKS: – Practice – sustainability

Leaders - Campaigns EE – Change!COMMUNICATE - Diverse Audiences.

Conclusion – RecommendationsCERTAINTY - climate change, sustainable energy & economic stability. Leadership - Institutional Coordination! Cultural Orientations!!

Conclusion & Recommendations

Facilitation: Community Engagement!(a) institutional trust & (b) salience IG-DE.Awareness & Personal Responsibility!

Altruistic moral norms. Limitations – Sustainability Framework! Information – AWARE – access – incentives!Environmental – campaigns - diverse ID groups. Incentives: economic/tech - Accessible!Time & Resource – on-site consultations.Civil Society– advocacy– Remove Barriers IG-DE!

Thank you

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