1 Energy Democracy Michele WenderlichPhD Student, Clark University Graduate School of Geography Climate Justice Activist
2 Energy Democracy: lots of ways to think aboutOwnership Organization Control (sovereignty) Access benefits/effects The transition is a political issue – not a technical, economic or governmental fix For example: Fossil subsidies; centralized control; profit motives; blocking renewable progress,;energy poverty and cutoffs; environmental racism; climate refugees; health effects of coal, fracking, pipelines; social effects of man camps
3 Larger issue: Which transition model?De-carbonized growth or Climate and Economic Justice? Do we just need to switch our energy sources, or is there a more fundamental problem – capitalism? Energy Democracy is one way to point towards a mechanism for the latter – transform the economy and power relations while de- carbonizing If so – need to: decentralize production, reduce demand, reduce/manage peaks
4 Terminologies Energy Democracy – ownership, control (socialization/democratization/decentralization of production), access, justice (environment and people not harmed), rethink general relationship Energy Sovereignty – more clear rejection of imperialism and colonialism Energy Justice – more resonant with Southern allies? Energy Commons (for need, not profit; self- organized) Link up with climate justice, environmental justice
5 What‘s this about? Distribution of costs and benefits – who profits, who suffers Who has access, whose voice is heard? Power/Control: Ownership part of, not determinate Social meaning and position of energy (commodity, commons: profit or need based?)
6 Process Models of ownership/controlMechanisms of participation (intermixable) Plebiscites: referenda Participatory: assemblies, right to petition (varying rules, binding/consultative) Representative: Elections for board, Advisory committee Worker Control
7 Ideal Democratic RenewableSocial – access, worker democracy, solidaristic / climate-environmental justice mission, anti-colonial
8 Model 1: Coops Mostly production coops – investing to produce new renewable energy, smaller scale (About half of renewables in Germany owned by community coops) Also consumer coops historical role in the US – bulk buying for rural areas – generally not renewable or democratic basis, worker coops In Berlin model of production coop to buy part of grid Most prominent example in the energy transition yet: who can participate?
9 Model 2(ish): Community systemsOften Includes coops Biovillages Germany Denmark wind – historically needed community buy-in / organization
10 Model 3: Public (Municipal)Berlin London – Switched on London – current promises for a municipal company from the newly elected London mayor after making it an electoral issue Minneapolis – Community Power / Minneapolis Energy Options SMUD Sacremento CA Boulder Possible immediately: Community Choice Aggregation
11 Berlin
12 Berlin Referendum Attempt November 2013For remunicipalization of electricity grid, creation of public utility with social, ecological, democratic mandate, possibility for direct democracy: Direct election of ½ Board (Other half worker representatives, with 2 members appointed by Senate) Yearly Neighborhood assemblies – Public Forum? Ombuds Office Right to petition meetings with board surveys of members
13 Model 3: Public (National Companies)Exemplars: UTE Uruguay extremely high rates of renewables (nearing 100%), recent “energy revolution” - almost universal access, but also mostly private foreign investors, not internally democratic ICE Costa Rica (includes 3 regional utilities and rural coops) In Global North, liberalization laws make it difficult/impossible for these companies (e.g. Sweden’s Vattenfall to pursue social/environmental goals)
14 Combinations and other considerationsCJA’s Our Power Campaign: Communities for Just Transition largely POC-led Environmental Justice fights, also building new economies and democratizing consumer coops EJ fights – resistance to pipelines! Indigenous resistance and solidarity! Legislative framework: Net metering caps, Feed in Tariffs Financing tools for various models Pay as you Save (PAYS) model helps renters, all save from day 1 with no loan or credit check and on-bill financing – democratizes access to financing, scales up total investment by 10 Also level of franchise fee or tax and what it’s used for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth - Eastern Kentucky, KY Cooperation Jackson - Jackson MS Southwest Workers Union - San Anotonio, TX Black Mesa Water Coalition - Black Mesa, AZ East Michigan Environmental Action Council - Detroit, MI Asian Pacific Environmental Network and Communities for a Better Environment - Richmond, CA
15 Resources: OrganizationsTransnational Institute – subscribe to list! https://lists.tni.org/mailman/listinfo/energy-democracy Trade Unions for Energy Democracy Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Local Clean Energy Alliance Center for Social Inclusion Institute for Local Self-Reliance CommonBound / New Economy Coalition Our Power Campaign Coop Power (Massachusetts/Northeast) Sierra Student Coalition Seize the Grid Campaign Platform UK
16 Resources: PublicationsAngel J (2016) Strategies of Energy Democracy. Brussels: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Platform (2015) Energy Beyond Neoliberalism. In: Hall S, Massey D and Rustin M (eds.) After Neoliberalism? The Kilburn Manifesto. London: Lawrence & Wishart Ltd. Weinrub A and Giancatarino A (2015) Toward a Climate Justice Energy Platform: Democratizing Our Energy Future. Oakland and New York: Local Clean Energy Alliance and the Center for Social Inclusion. Farrell J (2011) Democratizing the Electricity Systm A Vision for the 21st Century Grid. Minneapolis: The New Rules Project. Kunze C and Becker S (2014) Energy democracy in Europe A survey and outlook. Brussels: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Lambing J (2012) Electricity Commons – Toward a New Industrial Society. In: Bollier D and Helfrich S, eds., The Wealth of the Commons. Amherst: Levellers Press.
17 Thank you! Michelle Wenderlich [email protected] PhD Student, Clark University Graduate School of Geography