Wind Power Deployment: The Role of Public Participation in the Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Background
2.1. Weaknesses of the Current Regulatory Governance
2.1.1. Environmental Assessment
2.1.2. Renewable Energy Approval
2.2. Collaborative Decision-Making
2.3. The Role of a Trusted Third Party in Collaborative Decision-Making
3. Recommended Conceptual Framework: Climbing the Ladder of Participation
4. Application of Framework
4.1. Methodology
4.2. Case Descriptions
4.2.1. Ernestown Wind Park by Horizon Legacy (Project Began in 2010, Intended Start-up in Late 2013, Commercial Operation Began in the Summer of 2014)
4.2.2. Summerhaven Project by NextEra Energy (Project Started in 2006, Intended Start-up in 2011, Commercial Operations Began August 2013)
4.2.3. Bluewater Project by NextEra Energy (Project Started in 2006, Intended Start-up in 2013, Commercial Operations Still Pending as at 15 April 2016)
4.2.4. Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park by Gilead Power (Project Started in 2008, Intended Start-up in 2012, Commencement of Commercial Operations Still Pending as at 15 April 2016)
4.2.5. Grand Renewable Wind Project (GRW) by Samsung (with its Local Partner, Pattern Energy)—(Project Started in 2010, Commenced Commercial Operation in 2014)
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
7. Limitations and Future Work
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Advantages | Challenges |
---|---|
Reducing conflicts: Collaborative planning is more likely to result in a decision because stakeholders are constructively incorporated into a collaborative process to reach a consensus, instead of remaining as critics outside the process. | Motivation and skills: All stakeholders (both proponents and opponents) should be motivated to participate. However, the asymmetrical distribution of negotiating skills and technical knowledge can result in inequitable outcomes. |
Creative solutions: Integration of local and expert knowledge may result in more creative alternatives. | Representativeness: Stakeholder groups willing and able to participate in collaborative planning may represent a narrow spectrum of special interests that exclude broader public interests and can therefore result in biased decisions. |
Reaching efficient decisions: The broad and diverse group of stakeholders improves the quality of decisions by incorporating interests of all parties in the final plan. Therefore, solutions to problems are better supported for implementation. | Logistical challenges: Organizing a process around a large group of potentially resistant stakeholders requires substantial resources and time. |
Creation of social capital: The development of improved skills, knowledge, and stakeholder relationships that benefit the community in ways beyond preparation of the specific project. | Compromise: Stakeholders may agree on the second-best solution in order to achieve consensus. In some cases, even important expert knowledge can be underemphasized or overlooked. |
Increased equity, building trust, improving officials’ credibility within the community, and improved public understanding of the agency’s responsibilities and limitations are among advantages. | A collaborative approach may not be appropriate in many situations that involve fundamental value and belief differences. |
Project | Duration | Capacity (MW) | Significant Feature | The Presence of a Third Party | Participation Level | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Facilitator | Consultant | Knowledge-Broker | Inform | Consult | Involve | Collaboration | Empowerment | ||||
Ernestown Win Park | 2010–2014 (Intended start-up: 2013) | 10 | Early involvement; hiring facilitator from the community | ✓ | ✓ | − | ✓ | ✓ | − | − | − |
Summerhaven | 2006–2013 (Intended start-up: 2011) | 124.4 | Eagle nest dispute | ✓ | ✓ | − | ✓ | ✓ | - | − | − |
Bluewater | 2006–Still in progress (Intended start-up: 2013) | 60 | Municipality bylaws | ✓ | ✓ | − | ✓ | ✓ | − | − | − |
Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park | 2008–Still in progress (Intended start-up: 2012) | 22.5 | Legal actions | ✓ | ✓ | − | ✓ | ✓ | − | − | − |
Grand Renewable Wind (GRW) | 2010–2014 | 150 | Financial partnership with Six First Nations | ✓ | ✓ | − | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | − | − |
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Jami, A.A.; Walsh, P.R. Wind Power Deployment: The Role of Public Participation in the Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada. Sustainability 2016, 8, 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080713
Jami AA, Walsh PR. Wind Power Deployment: The Role of Public Participation in the Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada. Sustainability. 2016; 8(8):713. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080713
Chicago/Turabian StyleJami, Anahita A., and Philip R. Walsh. 2016. "Wind Power Deployment: The Role of Public Participation in the Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada" Sustainability 8, no. 8: 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080713