Act locally, transition globally: Grassroots resilience, local politics, and five municipalities in the United States with 100% renewable electricity

Abstract

This paper examines five communities in the United States (U.S.) that have transitioned to 100% use of renewable resources for electricity. The paper describes and compares social, political and economic similarities and differences among these communities to improve understanding of the factors that support successful renewable energy (RE) transitions. The analysis builds on Geels' multi-level perspective theory in assessing sustainable energy transitions and the energy transition process based on these five case studies.Main variables of interest considered for 100% renewable energy transition in these municipalities are renewable energy resource availability (solar, wind and hydro), utility ownership, partisanship of municipal leadership, population size, and supporting energy legislation at state level renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Findings from this paper show that utility ownership appears to play a critical role in the transition process, as most of the municipalities have municipally owned utilities. State RPS programs are also prominent among all the states in which these the municipalities are located, indicating the importance of state legislation. Further, RE resource availability may not be required, as possibilities for hybridization of energy technologies are evident in the studied places. The most common pathway typology in these 100% RE transitions is reconfiguration. This typology results from technological innovations fuelled by development in RE technologies and stakeholder advocacy. Identified drivers from this research provide helpful parameters of consideration for energy transitions in other places in the U.S. and beyond.

Can Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Achieve Justice in Transitioning to 100% Renewable Electricity? Survey of Public Perceptions in Sociotechnical Change

“…One of the explanations for the dearth in this research area is the relatively new concept of 100% RE in the United States and the very few empirical case studies in this context. For instance, only five municipalities in the United States have been recognized as successfully transitioning to 100% RE for their electricity supply [21][22][23][24][25]. These municipalities represent less than 0.003% of the total municipalities in the United States, based on the Census Bureau in 2007 [26].…”

Rapid climate transformation requires transformative policy and science thinking—An editorial essay

“…A policy system to realize this requirement is now under construction: at least 13 US states have passed into law this obligation, with investment vehicles being built to enforce the mandate. In fact, a rapidly growing movement around the world of at least 600 cities and subnational regions is pursuing full energy system transformation with 53 cities, states, and regions already achieving this ambitious objective (IRENA, 2019; REN21, 2021; see also Adesanya et al, 2020). While United States and European city‐level efforts are most numerous, other cities likewise implement local energy strategies with transformative vision.…”

The impact of public acceptance on cost efficiency and environmental sustainability in decentralized energy systems

“…Due to the decentralized character of these sources, local energy planning is important for a successful implementation of energy systems with high shares of RE. 2 Internationally, many local initiatives are in place, with exemplar communities in Africa, 3 North America, 4 or Europe, 5 to name but a few. In Europe, the “Covenant of Mayors” is the mainstream movement, involving local authorities that voluntarily commit to increase renewable energies on their territory.…”