Assessing motivations and barriers to renewable energy development: Insights from a survey of municipal decision-makers in Alberta, Canada

Municipal renewable energy development is a component of community energy that remains under -examined. Particularly, within jurisdictions like Alberta, Canada, where fossil fuels remain dominant, transition to decentralized and renewable energy systems can be challenging. To gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and the barriers to building renewable energy projects within municipalities, we utilize a province-wide survey of municipal decision-makers (n = 101). Results are examined through a framework that combines the theory of planned behaviour with transition theory to identify specific motivations and challenges associated with renewable energy development in this jurisdiction. Consistent with other research, results highlight the perception of economic value that encourages municipal renewable development. Key constraints on the development of renewable projects are associated with difficulties in accessing grants, limited support from the provincial government, and a concern about aesthetics and negative impacts on natural landscapes. Results are discussed in the context of published literature on this topic, with insights on the value of this blended theoretical framework for unpacking and understanding constraints and opportunities for renewable energy development at the municipal level.(c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

This research examines the motivations and barriers of municipal renewable energy development in Alberta, Canada, and provides insights into potential solutions. The study finds that the perception of economic value is the main driver for municipal governments to invest in renewable energy projects, while limited access to grants, inadequate support from the provincial government, and concerns about aesthetics and environmental impacts act as significant constraints.