Co-creating NZ's Energy Future: Developing a taste for spinach
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Transcript of Co-creating NZ's Energy Future: Developing a taste for spinach
Co-creating NZ’s energy future
Janet StephensonCentre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Otago
‘Democratising Energy’ Hui, Puketeraki Marae 17 June 2011
Developing a taste for spinach
Conundrum
• “Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink” Guardian 29 May 2011
• “A controversial North Canterbury wind-farm proposal has drawn more than 130 submissions” Stuff 25 May 2011
3
Reducing energy-related emissions – to keep world under 2 degrees rise
From IEA World Energy Outlook (2009)
System-wide change needed
Not just about supplying more electricity: also• Distributed generation• Energy use & efficiency• Transport• Infrastructure• Attitudes & knowledge• The rise of ‘prosumers’, smart grids etcNeed living examples of how it can be done
EECA public opinion survey 2009
% appealed by power type
2 15813 3281Stephenson & Ioannou 2010
Why?
• Scale?
(n=266) Schaefer 2010
Scale v appeals (wind farms)
Stephenson & Ioannou 2010
Why?
• NIMBY? (Not In My Back Yard)
Only one with more local opposition
Comparing submissions on 3 windfarms: local = within 15 km radius
Graham, Stephenson & Smith 2009
Why?
• Oppositional groups don’t seek coal-fired power stations!
• Effects on environment?– Noise, landscape traffic etc?
• Yes, but ... our interviewees mostly talked about other issues
Stephenson & Ioannou 2010
Why can’t we just have a normal dinner?
Not acceptable because...
• Direct/tangible impacts (RMA business)
• Scale & size• Place attachment / values of
existing site• Absence of local benefits• Not appropriate sustainability
solution• Lack of trust in
developer/government• Lack of local
control/governance• Being cast as ‘the problem’• Not part of ‘cultural norm’
I don’t like the taste! There’s too
much on my plate!
What do I get out of this?
Let me make my own dinner!
I’d rather eat broccoli instead
What are you doing to me, Dad?
Why blame me if I don’t like it?
None of my friends have to eat it
Addressing the ‘spinach’ factors:
• If communities are involved, opposition reduces
• Plenty of interest in ‘growing our own’ energy
Schaefer 2010 (n=266)
Developing the taste for spinach in Blueskin Bay
Building on greater acceptability of smaller scale
Building on rich history of social entrepreneurs, inventiveness, DIY
Enabling forms of local involvement – joint ventures, community shares
Supporting community/individual initiatives
Some barriers:
Schaefer 2010
Farmer perceptions of barriers to installing wind turbines on their property (n =199) (initial cost not included)
BCRT’s vision
The spinach factors
Within control of BCRT
Should be addressed if good processes & engagement
The barriers
Outside of control of BCRT
Likely to need external support, formal alliances, shifts in policy, changes to market BAU, etc
First-off-the-block challenges (and rewards!)
Co-create NZ’s energy future
• Major social, technological and landscape change involved in NZ’s energy transition
• Recognise groups such as BRCT as allies in this shift
• Enable the public to have a real role in shaping the transition process rather than just recipients