TY - JOUR
T1 - A functional approach to decentralization in the electricity sector
T2 - learning from community choice aggregation in California
AU - Dokk Smith, Ida
AU - Kirkegaard, Julia Kirch
AU - Szulecki, Kacper
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022/2/7
Y1 - 2022/2/7
N2 - Decentralization of the electricity sector has mainly been studied in relation to its infrastructural aspect, particularly location and size of the generation units, and only recently more attention has been paid to the governance aspects. This article examines power sector (de)centralization operationalized along three functional dimensions: political, administrative and economic. We apply this framework to empirically assess the changes in California’s electricity market, which saw the emergence of institutional innovation in the form of community choice aggregation (CCA). Unpacking the Californian case illustrates how decision-making has moved from central state government and regulators to the municipal level in uneven ways and without decentralized generation keeping pace. We also explore the impacts this multidimensional and diversified decentralization has on the ultimate goals of energy transition: decarbonization and energy security. Our framework and empirical findings challenge the conventional view on decentralization and problematize the widespread assumptions of its positive influence on climate mitigation and grid stability.
AB - Decentralization of the electricity sector has mainly been studied in relation to its infrastructural aspect, particularly location and size of the generation units, and only recently more attention has been paid to the governance aspects. This article examines power sector (de)centralization operationalized along three functional dimensions: political, administrative and economic. We apply this framework to empirically assess the changes in California’s electricity market, which saw the emergence of institutional innovation in the form of community choice aggregation (CCA). Unpacking the Californian case illustrates how decision-making has moved from central state government and regulators to the municipal level in uneven ways and without decentralized generation keeping pace. We also explore the impacts this multidimensional and diversified decentralization has on the ultimate goals of energy transition: decarbonization and energy security. Our framework and empirical findings challenge the conventional view on decentralization and problematize the widespread assumptions of its positive influence on climate mitigation and grid stability.
KW - California
KW - community choice aggregation
KW - decentralization
KW - energy transition
KW - governance
KW - renewable energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124373965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09640568.2022.2027233
DO - 10.1080/09640568.2022.2027233
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85124373965
SN - 0964-0568
VL - 66
SP - 1305
EP - 1335
JO - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
IS - 6
ER -