Hi everyone,

Next week’s IRES Seminar is in the Beaty Museum Allan Yap Theatre:

September 19, 2024: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Holly Caggiano

Opposition or opportunity? The role of community benefits in just energy transitions

Location: Beaty Museum Allan Yap Theatre (Basement, 2212 Main Mall). Please check in at front desk on main floor before going downstairs.

No food or drinks allowed in the Theatre.

Time: 12:30pm to 1:20pm

Click here to register for Zoom link. Zoom will be terminated if we encounter tech problems 5 to 10 min into the seminar.

Talk summary:

As demand for distributed renewable energy generation has increased rapidly, so have conflicts over siting large-scale projects. Many wind and solar projects in the US and Canada have faced delays and cancellations that slow progress toward decarbonization goals. Meaningful community engagement and direct, verifiable benefits co-creation are necessary to avert these trends—and to ensure an equitable, rather than exploitative, energy transition. This talk will first examine recent findings from a survey of residents and local elected officials in Pennsylvania, USA that highlight how community benefits can build bipartisan support for energy infrastructure projects. Next, I will discuss emerging research on community benefits agreements, considering how new practices and policies might work to build shared value, prioritize justice, and expedite equitable energy development to mitigate climate change.

Dr. Holly Caggiano, Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning, UBC

Bio:

Holly Caggiano is an Assistant Professor in the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. Her work explores social dimensions of climate change in the US and Canada, and currently focuses on planning for just energy transitions.

See you on Thurs, Sept 19!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Bonnie Leung

RES Program Support (she/her/hers)

Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES)

University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory

Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory (AERL Building)

Room 429 – 2202 Main Mall | Vancouver, BC | V6T 1Z4 | Canada

 

Email: bonnie.leung@ubc.ca

Tel: 604-822-9249