December 8, 2023

Mapping: Scanning our community’s resources and options

When we are developing renewable energy projects, it’s important to hear from a wide range of voices and get as much community support as we can muster. It’s also important we understand the technical aspects of implementation — and the basic needs of our technology (e.g. solar or wind) and verify we have space available for it.

Because there are many things to consider, we suggest that groups follow at least 3 types of mapping processes. Each will raise new questions, identify limitations in knowledge, and suggest new groups that need to meet and connect with.

There will always be so much you don’t know and more people you could visit with. Try not to get overwhelmed by the mapping — but do keep alert for new areas to learn and people to grow with.

Map #1: Geographic Mapping to identify possible locations for the project

Map #2: Community mapping of allies and potential partners

Map #3: Points of renewable energy intervention

After the map — meet people!

Map #1: Geographic Mapping to identify possible locations for the project

The goal here is to better understand where renewable energy might be placed and what are the geographical limitations and opportunities and challenges you might face. You may not have enough details, but you may have some ideas for possible locations.

Steps

  • Open up a map (such as google maps) and find the area around the proposed project(s)
  • Circle locations for the possible renewable energy
  • In a different color, circle key areas of interest. Include:
    • Any significant key allies or opponents immediately nearby?
    • What neighbours will be impacted by the project and need to be recruited?
    • Are there nearby locations for gathering (like coffee shops or community centres) where you might organise?
  • Assess the location for quality of energy
    • Any wind blocks or shadows that need to be considered?
    • What are the angles of the roofs? (Are they suitable for putting on solar and proper angling at our latitude?)
    • Would trees or other ecological disturbances have to be considered or addressed?
  • Use some more advanced maps to get better quality data

Additional resources

Find general info for solar and wind: Global Solar Atlas and Global Wind Atlas

An easy tool to analyze shadows of any building over time: Shade Map

An advanced map for examining renewable energy potential: RE Data Explorer

Finding large-scale utility-sized projects near you via the Global Energy Monitor

Map #2: Community mapping of allies and potential partners

Steps

  • Inside a square, put yourself/your team in the center
  • Begin “mapping” different communities you are immediately connected to — putting their name in a circle with lines drawn to communities they are also deeply connected with (so you can see the web of relationships)
  • Begin adding communities who are not connected to but may also be important
  • Review that you have a range of different communities by asking some questions:
    • What would have the most impact in your community/town/city? Depending on where you live, and on the size and reputation of local institutions, the answer may vary a lot.
    • Who are most impacted by climate change and other frontline communities?
    • Which institution do you feel the most connected to? Your ability to influence change will depend on your network of relationships.
    • Who has the real decision-making power on your demand? In some places, the administration of a school or of a post office might be free to decide whether or not to install solar panels on their rooftops. You might need to do more research, after your group meeting, to figure out the right answers to this question.

Some particular groups you may want to talk with:

Most Impacted Peoples

We don’t want to replace one unjust energy system with another – we want a new, fair, clean energy economy that works for everyone by supporting community-led energy solutions. To do this the communities most impacted by climate change, standing at the frontlines, must be leaders in the shift to a new energy system.

They include: indigenous communities suffering the direct effects of fossil fuels such as air, soil, water pollution; agricultural communities already suffering with droughts and frosts; people in energy poverty; older people; people with disabilities; residents living on lower incomes who are most vulnerable when climate impacts hit; and young people. It also includes groups most impacted by the switch to renewable energy, such as fossil fuel workers and their families.

Identify these groups in your area, and first see if you can support their agenda, and then find common goals.

The Health Community

Medical authorities around the world including the World Health Organisation recognise the damage that fossil fuels do to public health, particularly through air pollution. Many health experts are already calling for a switch to renewables to save lives. This makes nurses and doctors unions, medical associations, hospitals and health centres natural allies and partners who could support and take pledges to accelerate a fast and fair shift to 100% renewable energy.

Groups who have “gone solar”

Listen out for any community institutions that have implemented renewable energy or taken steps to use renewable energy. These may be critical groups to learn how they persuaded and what research and materials they might already created. You may not have to build all of this from scratch!

Jobs Organisations

Fossil fuel workers and their families face an uncertain future, but we don’t want to leave anyone behind. For this reason it makes sense to build relationships with jobs organisations to help ensure the a fast and fair shift away from fossil fuels guarantees the retraining of workers and replacement employment, in the expanding renewable energy sector where possible.

Trade unions and youth organisations could be approached to make the pledge to support the switch to renewable energy that works for all, including fossil fuel workers.

Anti-Poverty and Inequality Groups

People living in fuel poverty can often be older citizens, or those living with disability or illness, or single parent families. They and their representative organisations may be trying to reduce energy bills or get energy access, and are natural allies to work with for increased energy access through renewables.

Iconic Landmarks

Many areas have iconic landmarks like recogniseable public buildings and working with the site owners to visibly switch. It can boost public awareness, generate public debate, and deliver smaller symbolic victories along the way. All of this helps to put pressure on local and national authorities for a substantive and scaled-up shift to renewable energy for all. It can act as a symbol so it is important that the landmark itself has a positive social impact in the community.

Your Neighbours

For many people the power of renewable energy to transform the world is not immediately obvious – but the positive impact it can have on a home or property can be a good first step towards a greater political target. Renewable energy in private homes can help reduce energy bills, increase property prices, and create energy access for the first time in many rural, off-grid locations.

You can research ways to buy or connect to renewable energy infrastructure, plan how to raise funds within the street or village, attract local investors, and seek funding for larger projects if appropriate. It helps to have a clear community motivation and volunteers with some skills to navigate the legal and financial aspects of the project.

If legislation and policies stand in the way of local renewables development you can work with other groups to build public support to pave the way for community owned renewables, calling on local authorities to help remove barriers at local or national level.

Additional resources

Map #3: Points of renewable energy intervention

There are different interventions in how renewable energy can be encouraged. As you are listening, it’s helpful to try to track these different interventions and finding out 1) where your community is; and 2) what level of change your community/core group is interested in.

Steps

  • Make a diagram (like above) of how electricity is distributed in your community currently, include what you know about and note questions. Include:
    • The name of utility companies (and if transmission is separate) and how they produce their power
    • How distribution is set-up
    • If there are any notable exceptions, such as microgrids or competing electrical producers
    • If your group is considering renewable energy for particular neighborhoods or groups of people (like a buyer’s cooperative or on schools), draw these options
  • Make a second diagram underneath noting key policies that either support or inhibit renewable energy production. These will require some research, but often a call to a local solar installation company can clarify most of these very quickly. These policies include:
    • Grid limitations to renewable energy: Does your electricity grid have the infrastructure to accommodate higher levels of renewable energy?
    • Net Metering: Does your location have policies that allow renewable energy producers to receive credits or compensation for excess electricity they feed back into the grid?
    • Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs): Does your location guarantee payments to renewable energy producers for the electricity they generate, often at a fixed rate, to incentivize investment in renewable projects?
    • Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS): Does your location have any regulations mandating a certain percentage of electricity generation to come from renewable sources, driving utilities to invest in renewables?
    • Carbon Pricing: Does your location have carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems that incentivize the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources?
    • Green Energy Certificates/RECs: Does your location have a market for certificates that represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation, allowing consumers to support renewables indirectly?
    • (add any other particular policies that come up in your discussions)
  • Take a look with your core team to make sure you understand these different options.
  • Now, with your group, circle the “points of intervention” which you think might be possible projects for your group to take on. Change a policy? Put up solar panels? Build a microgrid? Discuss and debate!

    (Even if your group already has a specific intervention in mind, this is helpful to “locate” it and see how it connects to other possible campaigns.)

    Take note of campaigns that you do not currently have the capacity to do — but might save for later. After winning a smaller campaign, groups are often prepared to build bigger campaigns.

Please note that with many localities, a lot of this information might be available researchable online. This can make a great research project for a student or someone with internet skills.

After the map — meet people!

After you’ve done this mapping, you have questions — and someone is likely going to have answers!

Keep expanding your network to new allies — expand your circle to talking with renewable advocates, policy specialists, lobbyists, supportive government officials, local councils, transport authorities, places of worship, universities, schools, and local businesses… you choose who to approach!

You are looking for people with community power who can help.

Remember:

  • Each specialist has its own technical language. Feel free to ask and learn — but remember you do not have to become an expert about all the things they are experts in;
  • Listen, but don’t get lost. Keep centered in your own values — you don’t have to be an expert and you don’t have to agree with their analysis, you only have to understand where your campaign could fit in with them and how you could pitch it to others like them.
  • Every group will have its own analysis. Listen to it — but do not rely too much on it during your initial conversations. Remain open but noncommittal.
  • Stay positive. Whoever you meet may be helpful in whatever campaign you design later. Keep a good relation and ask if you can go back to them later with questions.
  • Keep notes. Keep notes — so you can share with your teammates.

Additional resources