Citizens and cities that get involved and make room for renewable energy must be recognized for taking an important climate responsibility. But at the citizens' meeting about the disputed offshore wind turbines in Jammerland Bay, it was not part of the conversation at all.

Why do many public meetings about new wind and solar parks end with audience members crossing their arms and shaking their heads in frustration? What is it about the constellation of these energy projects that makes them not get support? How do you anchor the green transition? Many in the industry are probably pondering these questions. According to researchers and politicians, local resistance in many places stands in the way of the transition from fossil to renewable energy.

A few weeks ago I was at a citizens' meeting in Kalundborg, where there was not exactly a good mood about the plans to erect 16 large wind turbines in Jammerland Bay. Together with the Danish Energy Agency, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and a consultant, European Energy had invited citizens for information about the project and a presentation of the environmental impact report's assessments. There were many questions and comments about concerns about the impact on the already stressed marine environment, the birds, the porpoises, the visual nuisance, loss of property value – and about the long process the project has gone through since it was first proposed in 2012. Many of these frustrations and concerns about the local are completely understandable. And moderator Laila Kildesgaard did her part to manage the proceedings and give people plenty of time to speak. The presenters tried their best to explain and answer, such as Tobias Grindsted from the Danish Energy Agency, who has approved the feasibility study report. Despite that, the message from the citizens was clear: not in our bay.

Lack of climate focus
After the citizens' meeting, I am left with a wonder. In this specific case, but also in relation to what I hear about other citizen meetings, climate and climate commitment seem to be absent. It is not part of the conversation. Citizens and local communities who switch to cleaner energy take on an important climate responsibility. Why is the focus not put on the gain, value and recognition that should be when citizens and cities get involved and find space for renewable energy in their local area?

Kalundborg Municipality has previously involved citizens in considerations about renewable energy in the area. In connection with the project Future Green Energy and Citizens, approximately 100 representatively selected citizens participated in a workshop. According to a summary of the project, there was great support for the turbines, which were debated at the citizens' meeting: "Large wind turbines must especially be built on the sea, and the plans for an offshore wind farm in Jammerland Bay should be implemented."

But at the citizens' meeting in April, none of these people were on stage to explain why. There were also no local business leaders or politicians present to talk about how the large amounts of green electricity can be a gain for the city, or what value it can have to be a city that acts for the climate. And now Kalundborg Municipality has informed in a consultation response that they do not support the wind turbine project.

Ownership matters
Elsewhere in the country, it is possible to get local support for larger projects. Ownership and local initiative seem to make a difference.

At Thyborøn, a large wind turbine is being set up with local support. It is owned by a wind turbine guild consisting of nearly 2800 local members. In Tønder and Lemvig Municipality, there is good experience with local ownership of, for example, 40-50 percent of renewable energy plants. In the project in Jammerland Bugt, citizens are offered somewhat less: 20 percent. I didn't hear anyone ask about this with interest at the citizens' meeting. But one citizen mentioned that he could better support the project if it was owned by a Danish energy company, rather than the international Total Energies, which will eventually take over the majority of the offshore wind farm.

Good energy in the citizen-run
When we look at the projects where citizens themselves initiate the transformation in their local communities, there is a completely different commitment and positive energy. In Brenderup and Hunderup-Sejstrup, citizens seem proud to have established a jointly owned solar plant. Villages propose green communal district heating to get rid of oil and gas boilers. Citizen-run energy communities are popping up all over the country. And on Bornholm, a group of citizens and local businesses want to set up 9 wind turbines off the coast.

For the people behind the projects, it's about doing something together for the climate. They also get ownership and are part of the solution. There may be a financial benefit to it. And then they also think about the city's future. They know how important a strong community is for people to stay in their villages. Climate projects can show that the citizens of the city are thinking ahead. If, for example, a town replaces oil and gas boilers with a common green heat supply, it might attract new and younger people moving to the town. That part is also at stake in many places in the country.

Could we learn something from these citizen-driven projects and the good energy they create? Could one go together with citizens in the area from the start and design the larger projects together? Could it be an idea to link the larger projects to the energy communities that are being established these years and that need resources and support?

In Tønder, they have launched the project 'One every city counts' and the award 'Climate City of the Year'. KL also awards their climate award every year. It is well thought out. All in all, we need to focus more on the local communities that take climate responsibility, and give them recognition, so that others are inspired to take action.

This debate post has been published in Klimamonitor 24/5 2024