Reclaiming Energy: Community-controlled Renewables and the Politics of Sustainability

Abstract (English)

Energy is a central issue in contemporary anthropology, shaping global research beyond the EASA Energy Anthropology Network. Energy systems—ranging from infrastructure to consumption—are key to understanding how communities engage with development, modernity, and social change. These systems are inherently political, reflecting power dynamics that influence material conditions and visions for the future.
A key question is how local communities define and transform their relationship with energy, both practically and symbolically. How do energy communities (R.E.C.) resist or reimagine externally imposed energy systems, and what do these practices reveal about identity, governance, and agency in an era of uneven and often contested energy transitions? These questions are urgent as the global push for renewable energy faces resistance and the dominance of neoliberal policies that undermine local autonomy. While renewable energy is seen as a solution to climate change, it often conflicts with national policies, larger economic interests, and local power struggles, raising concerns about environmental justice and sustainability.
This panel explores the rise of R.E.C. as centers of grassroots production and self-governance, examining how local communities control energy systems and navigate tensions with broader political and economic structures. We particularly welcome contributions that critically address the following key themes
 R.E.C. as Agents of Change: How are local communities organizing themselves to produce and manage renewable energy? What are the cultural, social, and political implications of these efforts? How do these communities challenge or reshape dominant energy systems? How do these initiatives influence local notions of ownership, sustainability, and collective well-being?
 The Social and Political Dimensions of Community-Controlled Energy: What challenges do communities face when asserting control over their energy resources? How do these struggles relate to broader socio-political dynamics, such as resistance to neoliberal policies, the effects of environmental exploitation, and the growing influence of multinational energy corporations?
 Energy Justice and Environmental Frictions: What tensions emerge when renewable energy projects are implemented in areas with competing land-use priorities or environmental concerns? How do R.E.C. address issues of environmental justice, particularly when dealing with the legacies of extractivism or the gentrification of landscapes and the commons?

 Cultural Practices and Knowledge in Energy Production: How do local communities incorporate alternative ecological knowledges and practices into their renewable energy strategies? How does energy production become a means of asserting community identity and resistance, and how is it reflected in local narratives, rituals, and daily life?
 Governance and Decision-Making in Energy Transitions: What new forms of governance are emerging in R.E.C.? How do these communities approach challenges in democratic decision-making, power distribution, and the establishment of alternative processes for managing collective energy resources.
The aim is to explore diverse perspectives for energy futures emerging from various models of collectivization.

Resumen (Español)

Reclaiming Energy: Community-Controlled Renewables and the Politics of Sustainability

Energy is a central issue in contemporary anthropology, shaping global research beyond the EASA Energy Anthropology Network. Energy systems—ranging from infrastructure to consumption—are key to understanding how communities engage with development, modernity, and social change. These systems are inherently political, reflecting power dynamics that influence material conditions and visions for the future.

A key question is how local communities define and transform their relationship with energy, both practically and symbolically. How do communities resist or reimagine externally imposed energy systems, and what do these practices reveal about identity, governance, and agency in an era of uneven and often contested energy transitions? These questions are urgent as the global push for renewable energy faces resistance and the dominance of neoliberal policies that undermine local autonomy. While renewable energy is seen as a solution to climate change, it often conflicts with national policies, larger economic interests, and local power struggles, raising concerns about environmental justice and sustainability.

This panel explores the rise of "renewable energy communities" as centers of grassroots production and self-governance, examining how local communities control energy systems and navigate tensions with broader political and economic structures. We invite contributions that address the following key themes:

 Renewable Energy Communities as Agents of Change: How are local communities organizing themselves to produce and manage renewable energy? What are the cultural, social, and political implications of these efforts? How do these communities challenge or reshape dominant energy systems? How do these initiatives influence local notions of ownership, sustainability, and collective well-being?

 The Social and Political Dimensions of Community-Controlled Energy: What challenges do communities face when asserting control over their energy resources? How do these struggles relate to broader socio-political dynamics, such as resistance to neoliberal policies, the effects of environmental exploitation, and the growing influence of multinational energy corporations?

 Energy Justice and Environmental Frictions: What tensions emerge when renewable energy projects are implemented in areas with competing land-use priorities or environmental concerns? How do energy communities address issues of environmental justice, particularly when dealing with the legacies of extractivism or the gentrification of landscapes and the commons?

 Cultural Practices and Knowledge in Energy Production: How do local communities incorporate alternative ecological knowledges and practices into their renewable energy strategies? How does energy production become a means of asserting community identity and resistance, and how is it reflected in local narratives, rituals, and daily life?

 Governance and Decision-Making in Energy Transitions: What new forms of governance are emerging in renewable energy communities? How do these communities approach challenges in democratic decision-making, power distribution, and the establishment of alternative processes for managing collective energy resources.

We particularly welcome contributions that