Working Toward A Social License for Small and Large Scale Tidal Energy Development Dr. John Colton Acadia University Acadia Tidal Energy Institute

Transcription

1 Working Toward A Social License for Small and Large Scale Tidal Energy Development Dr. John Colton Acadia University Acadia Tidal Energy Institute May 22, 2014 Nova Scotia Energy R & D Conference

2 Overview Key principles supporting a social license Stakeholder engagement and the social license Supporting a social license in Nova Scotia The Community and Business Tidal Energy Toolkit Recasting development to support a social license

3 What We Know About a Social License Enablers and barriers Key principles that support a social license Trust Reciprocity Transparency Community-based renewable energy projects often produce SL unintentionally Small scale Community-ownership (?) Engagement practices

4 Lessons Learned Early initial engagement On-going engagement Community socioeconomic benefits Access to knowledge Opportunities to learn Opportunities to be heard Responsiveness to issues raised by stakeholders

5 Tidal Energy is Game Changer New energy era: Reduce carbon footprint Renewable energy strategies/targets Green economies Energy production is on the front stage New development era: Community control Buy-in Community empowerment Community economic development Economic and social capital Sustainable development

6 Social License Meaningful stakeholder engagement It s bigger than engagement Is social license a by-product? Developed intentionally? Knowing the difference between communication and engagement Understanding the context of development and using local and regional assets

7 Communication is not Engagement Communication Communicate to Information out Talk to/tell Public hearing Engagement Values, vision Conversation Building a network of stakeholders Building trust Building relationships Finding common ground

8 ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT Source: Ian Thomson, Robert G. Boutilier, 2011,Modelling And Measuring The Social License To Operate: Fruits Of A Dialogue Between Theory And Practice

9 Key Questions in Engagement What principles will guide the development? What has already been decided? What decisions are open to influence by stakeholder engagement? What level of engagement is appropriate? How well are stakeholder concerns understood? Who should be engaged?

10 Supporting a Social License in Government Nova Scotia MRE Strategy COMFIT SEA s Industry Engagement strategies Academic Tidal Energy Toolkit Pathways of Effects Collaborations Government Industry Academic Community Nova Scotia

11 The Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development & Community Engagement

12 Series of Modules Overview of Tidal Energy Dr. Graham Daborn Measuring and Accessing Tidal Resource Dr. Richard Karsten Tidal Power Extraction Devices Sue Molloy & James Taylor Regulatory Environment for Tidal Energy Elisa Oberman Environmental Risk Assessment Lisa Issacman Stakeholder and Community Engagement Dr. John Colton Financial Evaluation and Cost of Energy Dr. Shelley MacDougall Opportunities and Strategies for Communities Alan Howell & Dr. John Colton Opportunities and Strategies for Businesses Elisa Oberman Financing, Government Supports, and Managing Risk Dr. Shelley MacDougall Assessing the Potential Economic impacts of a Five Megawatt Tidal Energy Development in the Digby Area Dr. Brian van Blarcom

13 Want to know about tidal energy?

14 What is Tidal Energy? Dr. Graham Daborn

15 Want to know about tidal energy resources in Nova Scotia?

16 Measuring and Accessing the Tidal Resource Dr. Richard Karsten

17 Want to know about stakeholder concerns and methods for stakeholder engagement? Dr. John Colton

18 Working Toward a Social License Understanding that its more than jobs Recasting development model Intentional strategies Larger socio-economic development strategies Addressing key issues: What happens if impacts are unacceptable to community? What is the process for removing turbines?

19 Re-Casting Development Economic Capital How will project support local economy? Social Capital How does project develop new opportunities for community growth? How will local and regional supply chain be used? How does project support transition of other industries into supply chain for tidal energy development? Natural Capital To what extent is the marine and terrestrial environment understood? To what extent have stakeholders been engaged in developing this understanding? Are there opportunities for citizenscience collaborations? How will engagement methods support stakeholder involvement? How well do project proponents understand stakeholder concerns? Human Capital To what extent does project provide opportunities for learning new skills and transference of old skills? To what extent does project provide training opportunities for youth and others?

20 Getting a Social License To what extent can you work toward a social license? To what extent are you committed to working toward a social license? Resources Human financial

21 Thanks! Toolkit: ity-business-toolkit-.html Photo Credits: Grew Trowse Elisa Oberman Leigh MacDougall