Resources on Energy Democracy

This site provides resources to build and promote an energy democracy movement in the U.S.

Energy democracy is a way to frame the struggle of working people, low-income communities, and communities of color to take control of energy resources from the corporate energy establishment and use those resources to empower their communities. It means a decentralized energy system, one characterized by social and community-based control and ownership of energy resources. Democratizing energy is a central aspect of just transition from a fossil-fuel economy to a new renewable energy economy grounded in economic and social justice.

The Energy Democracy Project bings together organizations and individuals across the country to popularize and advance energy democracy as a key strategic perspective within the climate and new economy movements.  Learn more here.  Contact the Energy Democracy Project here.

Publications on Energy Democracy

Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions,
October 2017
A reader that captures the historical and conceptual framework, as well as the underlying values and principles of the emerging energy democracy movement, as told by its leaders. Assembles in one place the current and growing body of renewable energy strategies and practices for shifting the extractive, U.S. fossil fuel economy towards a decentralized renewable energy economy, one that is equitable, sustainable, resilient and democratic..

Toward a Climate Justice Energy Platform: Democratizing Our Energy Future, December 2015
Lays out a vision, political framework, strategies, and principles of democratized energy development as the basis for a proposed platform to advance climate justice in the U.S. Includes model policies and programs and snapshots of advocacy to democratize energy from around the country.

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Videos on Energy Democracy

Clean Power, Healthy Communities 2017: Recap Energy Democracy Book Release Celebration, November 2017 (3 minutes)
Highlights of the celebration of the Local Clean Energy Alliance's 10-year anniversary and release of Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions, a collaborative book project that captures the historical and conceptual framework, as well as the underlying values and principles of the emerging energy democracy movement, as told by its leaders.

Naomi Klein, Jeremy Corbyn, and TUED at the Paris Climate Talks, December 2015 (17 minutes)
Excerpts from a forum in Paris on December 7 that attracted a capacity crowd of 700 trade unionists and allies. The panel featured writer and activist Naomi Klein and UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and incluced trade leaders from a number of countries, who are involved in Trade Unions for Energy Democracy.  The speakers addressed energy democracy, climate jobs, and the need for a transition that is both just and transformative.

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Articles on Energy Democracy

11/12/15
Al Weinrub, Energy Democracy: Inside Californians' Game-Changing Plan for Community-Owned Power

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Organizations Promoting Energy Democracy

In process...

Conferences/Convenings on Energy Democracy

Clean Power, Healthy Communities 2017, November 16 &17, 2017
Hosted by the Local Clean Energy Alliance, this 10-year anniversary and Energy Democracy book realease celebration included an all-day conference (see videos section). The theme of Clean Power, Healthy Communities 2017 was to build a path forward to increased community control and ownership of renewable energy resources. It explored how democratizing energy can empower and address the needs of our communities—especially low-income communities and communities of color—and strengthen the movement for environmental, economic, and social justice.

Democratizing Energy Workshop Track, CommonBound Conference, July 9, 2016
Initiatives from across the country that are attempting to strengthen decentralized renewable energy development. Included ten workshops on key issues of energy democracy: community engagement, confronting utility policy, community organizing strategies, the impact of racism, energy development models, and financing local renewable energy projects.

Collaborative Strategy Session, Energy Democracy Project, February 8, 2016
Summary Report of a convening in Washington DC to build a stronger community of energy democracy leaders through a shared political framework and principles, a common set of long-term goals, strengthening relationships, and collective action.

Clean Power, Healthy Communities, March 5 2015
Hosted by the Local Clean Energy Alliance, this 5th annual Clean power, Healthy Communities Conference promoted the development of lcally-contrlled clean energy economies as a necessary path to a sustainable future.

Clean Power, Healthy Communities 2017, November 16 &17, 2017
Hosted by the Local Clean Energy Alliance, this 5th annual Clean power, Healthy Communities Conference promoted the development of lcally-contrlled clean energy economies as a necessary path to a sustainable future.