Rescaling the governance of renewable energy: lessons from the UK devolution experience.

Cowell, Richard; Ellis, Geraint; Sherry-Brennan, Fionnguala; Strachan, Peter A.; Toke, David

Abstract

Efforts to rescale governance arrangements to foster sustainable development are rarely simple in their consequences, an out-turn examined in this paper through an analysis of how the governance of renewable energy in the UK has been impacted by the devolution of power to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Theoretically, attention is given to the ways in which multiple modes of governing renewable energy, and the interactions between modes and objects of governance, together configure the scalar organization of renewable energy governance. Our findings show how the devolved governments have created new, sub-national renewable energy strategies and targets, yet their effectiveness largely depends on UK-wide systems of subsidy. Moreover, shared support for particular objects of governance-large-scale, commercial electricity generation facilities-has driven all the devolved government to centralize and expedite the issuing of consents. This leads to a wider conclusion. While the level at which environmental problems are addressed can affect how they are governed, what key actors believe about the objects of governance can mediate the effects of any rescaling processes.

Citation

COWELL, R., ELLIS, G., SHERRY-BRENNAN, F., STRACHAN, P.A. and TOKE, D. 2015. Rescaling the governance of renewable energy: lessons from the UK devolution experience. Journal of environmental policy and planning [online], 19(5), pages 480-502. Available from: https://doi.org./10.1080/1523908X.2015.1008437

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 17, 2015
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 6, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 6, 2016
• Journal: Journal of environmental policy and planning
• Print ISSN: 1523-908X
• Electronic ISSN: 1522-7200
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 480-502
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2015.1008437
• Keywords: Scale; Governance; Renewable energy; UK; Devolution
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1868