Engaging inhabitants into energy transition in climate and energy model (CEM) regions: case studies of Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden

Austria has settled a target to reach 34% of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption by 2020. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles for implementation of this target. Until now little research was done on existing participatory governance measures in the Austrian CEM regions, which involve not only stakeholders but also inhabitants into decision-making processes on energy transition. The aim of this paper is to collect information about existing participatory governance measures in three CEMs, such as Freistadt, Baden and Ebreichsdorf, and to analyze these measures by using methodologies developed by Arnstein in his ladder of participation. Our results show that the majority of existing measures are at the level of providing information and awareness building. However, there are also some measures, such as energy groups, which allow all interested inhabitants for providing feedback about proposed in their CEM projects. Other measures, such as Helios or Badener Sonnerkraft, allow for financial participation of inhabitants in deployment of renewable energy projects in their region

Of transitions and models: Community engagement, democracy, and empowerment in the Austrian energy transition

Energy transition towards a greater share of renewable energy sources and even energy independence based on local generation is ongoing in several regions of Austria. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles of this transition, which also assumes that investment into renewable energy sources will create socio-economic benefits for local economies. However, recent experience of such CEM regions as Güssing shows the need of holistic assessment of the transition process, including elements of participatory governance such as existing possibilities for inhabitants to engage into decision-making processes regarding energy transition in their community. The results of this paper are based on case studies of three CEMs: Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden. The data are also collected with the help of in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the region and are analyzed based on the concept framework of the ladder of Arnstein. The results show typical level and forms of inhabitants’ engagement into decision-making processes in three CEMs

Of transitions and models: Community engagement, democracy, and empowerment in the Austrian energy transition

Energy transition towards a greater share of renewable energy sources and even energy independence based on local generation is ongoing in several regions of Austria. The Climate and Energy Model (CEM) regions are the major vehicles of this transition, which also assumes that investment into renewable energy sources will create socio-economic benefits for local economies. However, recent experience of such CEM regions as Güssing shows the need of holistic assessment of the transition process, including elements of participatory governance such as existing possibilities for inhabitants to engage into decision-making processes regarding energy transition in their community. The results of this paper are based on case studies of three CEMs: Freistadt, Ebreichsdorf and Baden. The data are also collected with the help of in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the region and are analyzed based on the concept framework of the ladder of Arnstein. The results show typical level and forms of inhabitants’ engagement into decision-making processes in three CEMs