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Knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to invest in renewable energy cooperatives in Alberta
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Project Report #24-01
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- Author(s) / Creator(s)
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Renewable energy co-operatives (RECs) provide citizens with opportunities to expand their roles within the energy system while providing environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities. Given the growth of renewable energy technologies and the long-standing use of the co-operative model in Alberta, Canada, the future of the REC sector in the province looks promising. However, because the sector is nascent in Canada, there are few studies that explore the motivating factors of REC participation in the Canadian context. For this purpose, our study asks, “What factors drive citizen participation and investment in RECs in Alberta?” and “Which attributes of RECs do Albertans prefer?” We answer these questions with survey results from household financial decision-makers in Alberta (n = 994). The survey, conducted in 2024, indicates there is substantial participation and investment potential in Alberta despite low levels of familiarity with RECs. Furthermore, our results emphasize the importance of economic incentives (energy cost savings, return on investment) and environmental considerations (participating in the renewable energy transition) in influencing an individual’s decision to participate or invest in RECs. Results demonstrate the relevance of both financial and non-financial motivations for citizen investment in community renewable energy projects. Thus, methods to foster participation in RECs can include specific attention to the financial performance and environmental impact of RECs and REC investments.
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- Date created
- 2024-08-01
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Type of Item
- Report