Feminist energy democracy: a comparative ethnography of renewable energy in regional Australia
Abstract
Energy is key to our planet. As the effects of climate change come upon us sooner than most had imagined, a rapid transition out of fossil fuels and toward renewable energy is imperative. But is stemming the tide of climate change the only role renewable energy has to play in significantly altering our society? Advocates of energy democracy argue that we could also use this transition to disrupt the power of multinational energy corporations and place the power quite literally back in the hands of everyday people through community renewable energy. Community, energy, activism and climate change - gender relations can be found at the centre of each of these, yet energy democracy theory and practice has to date sidelined gender. Feminist theory and ethics could be valuable additions to understanding and advocating for energy democracy through renewable energy transitions. Drawing on energy injustice, energy democracy, feminist technology and speculative feminism theory, this research project seeks to explore hindrances and hopes for a renewable energy transition in Australia through comparative ethnographic research of two communities engaged with renewable energy projects.
Meet the researcher – Alana West
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications (Social Sciences), Bachelor of Global Studies (University of Technology Sydney)
Academically Alana finds herself situated amongst anthropology, sociology & political economy. She strives to be an activist academic who produces knowledge and ideas useful to progressive social movements and social change. An active member of climate and social justice movements in Australia, she finds answers and comfort in ecofeminism and anarcho-socialism. Alana has worked for various political organisations including as a campaigns advisor for Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon and organiser roles with GetUp, NSW Nature Conservation Council and World Animal Protection. She is a member of the NTEU.
Alana's favourite quote:
Cyborg writing is about the power to survive, not on the basis of original innocence, but on the basis of seizing the tools to mark the world that marked them as other.
– Donna J Haraway
Email: alana.k.west@student.uts.edu.au
Principal supervisor: Dr Jon Marshall
Co-supervisor: Dr Jeremy Walker