Energy Transition Viewed Through The Right Lenses

Nature has published its special edition on energy transition. Among many other brilliant articles, “Energize the people to effect policy change” should be on everyone’s 2017 reading list.

It’s an important voice in the discussion on community energy legislation. The authors describe the dangers of taking grass-roots movements out of the equation while writing the legislation.

They take a closer look at Ontario, where legislators, inspired by a socially instigated movement in Germany, assumed that implementing the same regulatory frameworks would bring the similar results and inspire communities at home. It didn't. And not only did it not in Ontario – 100 jurisdictions worldwide have adopted policies similar to Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act, resulting in great growth in renewables. But nowhere — not in the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Italy or Ontario — did this growth come mainly through community projects, as had been intended.

- Communities can be crucial innovators, but business interests can stymie innovation. Policymakers therefore have to help cash-strapped communities act, even when the private sector cannot expect a return on investments.

Make yourself a cup of coffee and read through the entire special edition.