From project participants to policy shapers: How communities influence renewable energy governance

Community involvement in renewable energy has often been examined at the project level—through opposition, acceptance, or participation. This paper moves beyond that scope to explore how communities shape the broader governance frameworks underpinning energy transitions. Drawing on a qualitative case study of wind energy in Israel, the study identifies four arenas through which community influence is exercised: coalition-building, engagement with regulatory agencies, participation in Environmental Impact Assessments, and involvement in planning committees. Community influence emerged through cumulative, cross-arena participation that blurred boundaries between formal and informal institutional engagement, positioning communities as credible participants in shaping how renewable energy is governed. The study deepens understanding of how community actors co-shape renewable energy governance processes and contributes to socio-technical transitions scholarship by showing that systemic change emerges not only through technological innovation, but also through the cumulative effects of social engagement, evolving relationships, and legitimacy claims.