Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Ethics, Policy & Environment

Publication Date

2026

Keywords

energy democracy, energy justice, energy transition, renewable energy, political philosophy

Abstract

This study examines an energy democracy framework for guiding a just transition to renewable energy, which incorporates democratic methods and values into energy policy decision-making. But as there are a variety of models of democracy (e.g. liberal, ecological, green republican, and socialist), energy democracy is a complex normative concept, which gives rise to ambiguities and confusions. Drawing from political theory, I argue that identifying with a particular kind of democracy provides the framework with a clearer definition, richer normative grounding, and resources for addressing some limitations its critics have identified, such as the reduction of democracy to participation.

Funding Source

This article was published open access thanks to a transformative agreement between Milner Library and Taylor & Francis.

Comments

First published in Ethics, Policy & Environment (2026): https://doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2026.2714729

DOI

10.1080/21550085.2026.2714729

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