A social network perspective on involvement in community energy initiatives: The role of direct and extended social ties to initiators. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goedkoop, F.; Dijkstra, J.; Flache, A.
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 171(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Renewable energy -- Community energy initiatives -- Initiative involvement -- Social networks; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the role of social networks in influencing individuals' decision whether to participate in a community energy initiative (CEI), by incorporating different types of social contact between community members and CEI initiators. Engagement of community members is crucial for the success of a CEI and thus a key question is how the initiators can reach community members and stimulate involvement. By analyzing the community's social network we investigate how the structure of social ties between community members and initiators influences participation. We take both existence and number of strong and weak direct personal ties into account. In addition, we investigate the role of extended ties community members have to initiators, operationalized via indirect links through co-memberships of local associations. Data were obtained from eight communities in the Netherlands where a CEI was recently initiated ( N = 467 respondents). Our results demonstrate that community members' willingness to participate in a CEI is positively associated with direct ties to the initiators, both weak and strong, but there is no association with extended ties to initiators. Possible strategies of how initiators might best utilize their social ties are discussed. Highlights: Social network analyses of involvement in community energy initiatives Direct ties to initiators affect whether people become involved Strong ties play a more pronounced role than weak ties Extended ties to initiators are not related to involvement Results imply that social relations should be incorporated in policy design