This special issue contains five articles based on empirical research into energy transition at the local level. The focus is on the role of local authorities in the energy transition and on partnerships between local authorities (municipalities, provinces, regions) and local communities in the area of sustainable development. The three guest editors have also written an introduction and conclusion for this special issue. |
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Column |
Drie interessante rapporten voor het nieuwe regeerakkoord |
Auteurs | Dr. Milo Schoenmaker |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
Inleiding themanummer ‘Energietransitie en lokaal bestuur’ |
Auteurs | Thomas Hoppe, Ellen van Bueren en Maurits Sanders |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Artikel |
De slag om duurzaamheid in de polycentrische regio’s Randstad en Rijn-Roergebied |
Auteurs | Simon Goess MSc, Prof. dr. Ellen van Bueren en Prof. dr. Martin de Jong |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
In polycentric urban regions one can find different, mutually related cities without a clear centre. In these regions cities cooperate to attract inhabitants and employment, but at the same time they are each other’s competitors. The Randstad (Netherlands) and the Rhine-Ruhr area (Germany) both can be seen as polycentric regions. The authors explore to what extent these regions possess a common identity and common agenda and to what extent this promotes the sustainability and energy transition of these regions. In both regions identity appears to have grown especially at subregional level, by historically developed spatial-economic profiles of the different cities or suburban regions. In addition the cities in these regions more and more wish to distinguish themselves in the area of sustainability. Every city wants to be the smartest, greenest and healthiest, and to be at the forefront in energy transition and climate mitigation. In the Dutch Randstad this competitive drive especially seems to contribute to the realization of sustainability projects at the local level. And that is exactly why regional cooperation is important: to allocate resources as well as possible and to avoid transfer to others. This can be improved by the development of subregional or regional sustainability visions. |
Artikel |
Polycentrisme in lokale besluitvorming over duurzame energie: de casus slimme netten |
Auteurs | Imke Lammers MSc en Dr. Maarten Arentsen |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Energy planning and the realization of a new energetic infrastructure has become an issue for many actors. The local setting has become polycentric. Against this background the authors have tried to answer the question of the possible consequences of a polycentric local decision-making arena for the realization of sustainable energy transition, especially the implementation of smart grids. Polycentrism is characterised by configurations of units that are multi-level, multi-purpose, multi-sectoral and multi-functional. The impact of these configurations can be assessed using four criteria: control, efficiency, political representation and local self-determination. The authors used these criteria to analyse two cases. Both cases show that the consequences of polycentrism are variable and differ on the four criteria. The analysis shows tensions in polycentric configurations between control and efficiency on the one hand and local self-determination and political representation on the other. This outcome was a reason for the authors to argue for a better institutional design for the local polycentric arena with the help of the seven ‘rules-in-use’ of Elinor Ostrom. Her design is universal but requires specific local application. In this way more justice can be done to the local circumstances in order to be able to achieve effective results. |
Artikel |
Energiecoöperaties en gemeenten: bondgenoten bij lokale energietransitie? |
Auteurs | Dr. Hans Hufen |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Do energy cooperatives work together with municipalities in the area of energy and, if this is so, how can this cooperative relationship be interpreted from a public administration perspective? That is the central question of this article. The experiences with cooperation of four frontrunners amongst the energy cooperatives show that in many areas a fruitful cooperative relationship has been developed. In other areas cooperation is lacking because the municipality stands aloof as soon as the energy cooperative provides services to citizens and/or companies or because the purchase of green energy by the municipality from their own energy cooperative cannot simply be carried out. In the development of renewable energy projects it also suits municipalities to be reluctant because they not only promote local renewable energy but are also responsible for the spatial quality. From the perspective of public administration it is striking that the variety of municipal roles increases the complexity of cooperative relationship with energy cooperatives. For energy cooperatives it is difficult to understand that the municipality sometimes behaves like an ally, but can also be reluctant. The variety of the bond between both parties is first of all apparent from the need of an own identity and autonomy in the energy cooperatives. Secondly, two of the four energy cooperatives that were analysed needed support in a financial emergency. |
Artikel |
Sturing van warmtenetten: naar een typologie van governance-structuren van warmte-infrastructuren |
Auteurs | Dr. Maurits Sanders, Mr. Anne Veerle Brunnekreef en Prof. mr. dr. Michiel Heldeweg |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
A promising option in energy transition is a more efficient use of heat by linking local heating projects to a regional infrastructure. Although this is technologically feasible and the local officials are often benevolent, such projects only scantily get off the ground. The main challenge appears to be the aspect of the appropriate type of governance for the design and use of regional heat networks. The authors of this article developed a governance-typology for heat networks. The aim of the typology is to help unravel the complexity in the planning of heat infrastructures, taking due account of some legal principles. This typology also enables to categorize heating projects. In this way it is possible to provide some insight in the influence of the stakeholders’ preferences on the governance of heat infrastructures. Barriers and opportunities can be reduced that may hinder or promote the use of waste heat. Local officials may use the information for preventing or breaking through deadlocks in the planning of heat infrastructures. |
Artikel |
Decentrale overheden en beleidsinnovaties ter ondersteuning van actief burgerschap in de productie van lokaal opgewekte duurzame energie |
Auteurs | Beau Warbroek MSc en Dr. Thomas Hoppe |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Local authorities know for some time from experience with partnerships with local communities in the area of sustainable development that the urgency of climate change increases and that citizens develop into an equal partner. The convergence of these two motivations asks for an innovative way of acting, in which the performance of local authorities is a crucial factor for the ultimate success of local sustainable energy projects in which citizens are actively involved or will be involved. This article exposes the ways in which local authorities innovate with policy for the support of active citizenship in the production of locally generated sustainable energy. The article also explores the barriers that arise. The authors analyse two cases on different levels of government; ‘The Energy-workplace’ (in the Dutch province Fryslân) and ‘The Armhoede sustainable energy landscape’ (in the Dutch municipality Lochem). The cases show that policy innovations crystallize as well at ‘arm’s length’ distance as in the direct sphere of influence of the (local) authority. However, innovation takes place by the grace of the space in the existing institutional framework and the political (and administrative) system. Formal guidelines (like policy or regulation), persons, and informal practices of the traditional policy implementation may hinder a productive interaction between (active) citizens and government. |
Artikel |
Besluit themanummer ‘Energietransitie en lokaal bestuur’ |
Auteurs | Dr. Thomas Hoppe, Prof. dr. Ellen van Bueren en Dr. Maurits Sanders |
Auteursinformatie |
Praktijk |
Waarderend communiceren: durven verschillen als professionele competentie |
Auteurs | Dr. Els van der Pool en Dr. Guido Rijnja |
Auteursinformatie |
Praktijk |
Het goede gesprekReactie uit de bestuurlijke praktijk |
Auteurs | Jeroen Haan |
Auteursinformatie |
Praktijk |
Internationale tijdschriften en boeken |
Auteurs | Dr. Rik Reussing |
Auteursinformatie |
Diversen: Mededeling |
Laurens de Graaf lector aan de Hogeschool Utrecht |