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