J. Palm
Department of Thematic Studies – Technology and Social Change, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Download article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110573404Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:52, p. 3404-3411
Published: 2011-11-03
ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
Since 2008; the Swedish regional authorities; i.e.; the County Administrative Boards (CABs); have been exhorted to produce regional climate and energy strategies indicating how sustainable energy systems might develop in the future. I analyze the CAB role and mandate to coordinate and promote the development of regional climate and energy strategies. How do other regional and local actors perceive the CAB role; mandate; and legitimacy in relation to work on regional climate and energy strategies? Case studies were conducted in two counties where CAB representatives; municipal politicians; municipal climate and energy consultants; and Regional Energy Agency and Regional Cooperation Council representatives were interviewed in-depth.
The results of the interviews indicate that it was difficult for interviewed actors to explain how the tasks and responsibilities differed between the CAB; Regional Energy Agency; and Regional Cooperation Council; the representatives of these three bodies also experienced this difficulty. The CAB’s leading role in the energy strategy work was accepted by the other stakeholders; but only because the other regional actors currently lacked the resources to take on such work. In the future; the Regional Cooperation Councils will be the main legitimate CAB competitors; willing to take over the strategic energy work.
Regional planning; strategy; accountability; legitimacy; network; planning theory; governance
