Social and Community Aspects of IG-DE Dr Diane

Social and Community Aspects of IG-DE Dr Diane Costello, Curtin University Perth Western Australia August 31, 2010 – Customs House, Brisbane, Queensland

Project 5 - Objectives & Background q. Social & Community Aspects. q. Barriers, opportunities, issues. . q. Psych, socio-eco, political- energy policy. q. Methodology: Data Sources q. Regional Power Working Group – Community Engagement – IG-DE transition – edge of grid. q. Stakeholder Interviews q. Online SMEs Energy Survey – Two Communities.

Analytical Framework q. Thematic & Cultures Theory. q. Energy Consumers: (1) Hierarchists; (2) Egalitarians; (3) Individualists q. Discourse: energy attitudes & behaviours. q. Not Stereotype – multiplicity worldviews flexible IG-DE policy. q. Hierarchists: “little sense of individual responsibility”. • “climate change & development of RE are government responsibilities”.

Energy Cultures - Discourse • “Australian businesses will be disadvantaged if overseas economies do not regulate carbon emissions”. • “financial incentives are vital to take up energy efficiency and solar power generation”. • Egalitarians – “personal responsibility”. • “actions on climate change is a moral choice to protect the planet”! • “we must change our behaviour to protect future generations” • “we must act now to reduce our carbon emissions”.

Energy Cultures - Discourse Individualists – absence -personal responsibility -delegate responsibility. • “there is no point subscribing to green energy you don’t know if it is RE or coal fired“. • “it is not practical to pursue energy efficient operations if other businesses don’t do the same”. • “the big polluters (Corporations/industry) should be mainly responsible for protecting the environment”. • “government is responsible for delivering a secure and reliable energy supply”.

Community Engagement - Main Findings q. INVOLVING stakeholders - halt plans upgrade powerlines. q. Funds Diverted! q. INTERACTION – state; Utility & local government. q. DSM initiatives (CFL; fuel switching; smart meter trials, educational forums, EE appliance replacements, load control trials, etc). q. FACILITATION: community-owned wind farm - technical, regulatory, economic assistance.

Decentralized Governance q. ENABLED Transition - Awareness! q. Energy Efficiency & Reduction GHG!! q Salience & Acceptance – Egalitarians. q. Hierarchists – Opposed –Unrepresentative. qenergy decisions–threaten economy. q. Barrier - economic growth/development. qsocial, economic & environmental sustainability – energy options.

Local Governance Structure q. Individualists: delegated - community responsibility q. RE technologies - reliable or affordable. q. Inequality - afford - cheap electricity. q. Successful: inclusive representation Environmental, Social & Economic - IG-DE. q. Concerns - devolution of responsibility, energy security, affordability, barriers economic development. q. Decentralisation – mechanisms: qtransparency, consultation/feedback; accountability.

Online SMEs Survey – Key Findings q 242 SMEs – C-Change, Environment, Knowledge. q. Environmental Orientation: Support-Awareness 100% 87% 90% 80% 75% 73% 70% 65. 30% 60% 50% Agree Neutral 40% Disagree 30% 20% 10% 7. 80% 6. 60% 9. 20% 7% 0% Global warming and climate The use of fossil fuels change are serious issues contributes significantly to that need immediate action global warming and climate change. Uncontrolled consumer consumption is not sustainable. Scientists will find a solution to global warming without people having to make big changes to their lifestyles.

Environment ‘PAR’ Economic Sustainability 80. 00% 72. 30% 70. 00% 61. 20% 60. 00% 50. 00% 44. 70% 40. 00% Agree Neutral Disagree 30. 00% 20. 00% 15. 70% 10. 80% 12. 80% 10. 00% Protecting the environment should be Economic growth must be a priority for Australia even if it affects the affects economic growth. environment. Free competition is the best guarantee for economic prosperity.

Economy; Environment & Energy Policy q. Attachment to Place & Low profits. q. Policy Actions: Regulatory & Market Reforms – integration. q. Hierarchists/Egalitarians – CPRS, RE subsidies & green investment. q. Cultural Change - consumer consumption & alternative green industry. q. Individualists– Distrustful - Taxes. q. Opposed CPRS – [RETS; CC&S].

Green Awareness & Behavioural Actions Responsibility (Climate Change) – Actions!!. 60% 57% 55% 51. 60% 50% 45% 40% 33. 10% 30. 00% 30% 27. 20% 24% 20% Agree 19. 10% 18% Neutral Disagree 10% 0% I believe that my Energy Efficiency is a Investment in energy business practices low priority compared efficiency is a major contribute to climate to a lot of other things feature of the change. impacting on my company’s image. business. My business It is not practical to subscribes to green pursue energy efficient energy. operations if other businesses don’t do the same.

Attribution Responsibility – Climate Change HINDER: Leased – Mobile – Energy Use. Motivation: Altruistic; Economic - green image. Barriers: Affordability & Low Priority. Pragmatic Attitude: CC Adaptation. Morally Responsible – Powerless! INSTITUTIONAL CO-ORDINATION. Hiearchists & Individualists – leadership – green behaviours. Egalitarians: Individual Responsibility & Civic Action – Influence.

Community Acceptance of IG-DE • Institutional Coordination – on-site generation. 100% 88% 90% Agree 77% 80% Neutral 71% 70% Disagree 60% Don’t Know 52% 50% 40% 28% 30% 20% 14% 8. 30% 3. 80% 5. 40% 4. 50% 0% The business sector needs to become energy self reliant. PVC Panels Micro Wind turbines PHEV Fuel Cells

Energy Sources – Desired for Future 90. 00% 80. 00% 74. 80% 75. 20% 70. 00% 58% 60. 00% 50. 00% Agree Neutral 40. 00% Disagree 29. 00% 30. 00% 24. 00% 20. 00% 10. 00% 4% 4. 50% 0. 00% Natural Gas Hydro Power Geothermal Biomass Coal Nuclear • RE Sources! - Nuclear – Stigma – safety (waste, health, terrorism).

Support - Policy & Technological Solutions 80% 74% 70% 60% 50% 47% Agree 39% 40% Neutral 35% 34% 30% Don't know 28% 27% 20% 19% 17% 15% 14% 10% Disagree 8% 0% Carbon Sequestration Geo-Sequestration CPRS CC & S Biofuels • Understanding - Support - least detrimental!

Economic & Informational Barriers - IG-DE 80. 00% 71. 50% 72. 30% 71. 10% 69. 00% 70. 00% 60. 00% 50. 00% 40. 00% Agree Neutral 30. 00% Disagree Don't know 21% 20. 00% 10. 00% 9. 00% 7. 00% 5. 80% 1% 8. 30% 5% 2% 0. 00% The feed-in tariff to sell locally generated electricity is too low to offset costs. There are too few A major issue for There is a lack of government subsidies regional SMEs is the high information available to available for SMEs to costs of connection to decide the best DE adopt DE options. the grid. option. • Self Reliant - affordable/informed choices. • Entrepreneur– Roof Space – PVC/micro-wind turbine.

INCENTIVES - Facilitate IG-DE 100% 90% 89% 91% 90% 80% 78% 69% 70% 60% 50% Agree Neutral 40% Disagree 30% 20% 10% 0% Viable ‘feed-intariffs’ Rebates for RE generation Grants for Retrofitting Interest Free Green Loans Mandatory star ratings for EE buildings. Roll out of 'Smart Meters'

Worldviews & Willingness to Adopt IG-DE • Incentives - Adopt!! • Punish? • Reduction – Energy Usage. • Affordability – EE Strategies. • RE Incentives – inequality – Denied Access. • Challenge – Policies. Utilities increasing the price of electricity to Don't reflect true costs know 3% Agree 25% Disagree 57% Neutral 7%

Trust in Government – Energy Sustainability 50. 00% 45. 00% 43% 42% 40. 00% 37% 35. 00% 30. 00% 26% 25. 00% 22% 20. 00% 15. 00% 24% Agree Neutral Disagree 12% Don't know 10% 10. 00% 5. 00% 0. 00% Governments are doing their best to The WA government has the political The WA government plans what the address the future sustainability leadership to address complex community wants – fewer coal-fired concerns of Australia. sustainability issues. power stations q. Political – Frustration & Confusion – Policy. q. RE – 3 New 2 Refurbished- Coal plants. q. Debate – Certainty - Vacuum Policy!!

Awareness & Information Source - Energy How informed do 29% you feel about energy issues? Well 4. 00% Has national/international CC debate influenced your opinion 3. 6% about future energy alternatives? Informed Influenced Neutral Fairly Badly Informed 82. 4% Not Influenced 71% Source of Information 80. 00% 74. 4% 73. 2% 71. 1% 60. 00% 50. 00% Useful Not Applicable 40. 00% Not Useful 30. 00% 20. 00% 12. 8% 13. 2% 12. 00% 16. 1% 10. 00% Friends Family Magazines Work Colleagues

Information Source & Trust 70. 00% 64. 50% Source of Information 64. 10% 60. 00% 56. 20% 55. 80% 50. 40% 50. 00% 45. 00% 40. 00% 35. 10% Useful 30. 00% Not Applicable Not useful 20. 00% 15. 70% 12. 40% 10. 00% 6. 00% 8. 00% 4. 60% 0. 00% Local Environmental organizations Industry networks Radio programs Print media TV programs Scholarly journals Internet q. Place-bound - social networks – sourcing information. q. Internet? q. Information & Educational Campaigns.

Information, Education & Social Identity q. Trust: Source - Communicated – “Social Identity”. q. Hierarchists: simple practical solutions. q. Motivation: economic incentives & energy savings. qnot responsive - gravity posed to humans! qstigma –environmentalist - neutral language. q. Environmental organizations (64%) - ACCESS. q. Shire; CIC, Tourism – trust - not threatened. q. Individualists - sceptical -Environmentalist appeals! q. Technocentric & Economic incentives – EE & green marketing. q. Local media – govt/industry networks.

Communicating Energy Information q. Egalitarians - Science – media! q. Environmental, scholarly & internet. q. Eco-centric & techno-centric – catastrophe! q. LINKS: – Practice – sustainability q. Leaders - Campaigns EE – Change! q. COMMUNICATE - Diverse Audiences. Conclusion – Recommendations q. CERTAINTY - climate change, sustainable energy & economic stability. q. Leadership - Institutional Coordination! q. Cultural Orientations!!

Conclusion & Recommendations q. Facilitation: Community Engagement! q (a) institutional trust & (b) salience IG-DE. q Awareness & Personal Responsibility! q Altruistic moral norms. q Limitations – Sustainability Framework! q. Information – AWARE – access – incentives! q. Environmental – campaigns - diverse ID groups. q. Incentives: economic/tech - Accessible! q. Time & Resource – on-site consultations. q. Civil Society– advocacy– Remove Barriers IGDE!

Thank you • For more information on the i. Grid Research program: • The website address is www. igrid. net. au • This forms part of our overall communications strategy. The website is a vehicle for dissemination cluster research findings and to facilitate the engagement with key industry stakeholders.