Abstract
There is a substantial body of literature in North America regarding the social acceptance of renewable energies, particularly wind energy. However, limited research focuses on the experiences of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, several researchers have called for a rapid transition to renewable energies in Indigenous off-grid diesel powered communities in Canada, while limited research has considered local support for this transition, which neglects the Indigenous right of free, prior, and informed consent for developments on or which affect their territories. Working in partnership with nine Indigenous off-grid communities in southeast Labrador, we assess community-member perceptions and support of sustainable energies via hybrid interviews/surveys (n = 211) and key informant interviews (n = 11). Applying directed content analysis and participatory methodologies, we find that five primary themes influence Indigenous support for sustainable energies in southeast Labrador: (1) Community familiarity and understanding; (2) association with previous projects; (3) relationships with culture and sustenance; (4) endogeneity of resources; (5) energy security impacts. The themes should be viewed as a framework for understanding community support, not a definitive recipe for reaching consent. Applying these themes, we demonstrate broad community support for conventional renewables (wind, solar), reluctance towards emerging renewables (biomass, tidal, wave) and energy storage (pumped hydro, battery), and wide opposition for hydroelectricity and small modular nuclear. We demonstrate that energy efficiency applications maintain substantially higher support than most supply-side options. Supply-side sustainable energies have the potential to perpetuate the colonial or extractive nature of resource development in Indigenous communities, while energy efficiency applications more directly facilitate energy security and protect energy sovereignty.
Highlights
Canada is a global leader in renewable energy development, which provides 17% of the country’s total primary energy supply [1]
We suggest that supply-side sustainable energies have the potential to perpetuate the exploitative nature of resource extraction in Indigenous communities, while energy efficiency applications more directly contribute to energy security and protect energy sovereignty
Canada is typically regarded as a national leader with regards to renewable energy development
Summary
Canada is a global leader in renewable energy development, which provides 17% of the country’s total primary energy supply [1]. The Government of Canada defines an off-grid community as: (1) Any community not connected to the North American electricity grid or piped natural gas network; and (2) any permanent settlement (of at least five years or longer) with at least 10 dwellings [2]. According to these criteria, there are 258 off-grid communities throughout the country [3]. The vast majority of off-grid communities in Canada (n = 190) rely almost exclusively on diesel fuel for electricity generation. Off-grid diesel-dependence in Canada must be thought of as an issue predominantly affecting Indigenous Peoples- and off-grid energy research, policy, and advocacy must be centered on Indigenous rights
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