Socially Inclusive Development: Together You Go Further

Actively involving the community in a project is also known as participation. It is an important pillar in the Environmental Act. Logically, because participation is essential for creating support and acceptance. By incorporating local knowledge and insights into the process, you can prevent opposition and delays. Additionally, participation strengthens the sense of community. “Project development is largely about creating momentum,” says Tijmen Keesmaat. “Of course, you need to know what you’re doing technically, but it’s just as important to connect with local parties. This is how you build a project with support in the community. Cooperatives play an active role in this. They know what’s happening in the neighborhood.”

Fair Sharing

In participation processes, you often see the same faces. A few interest groups, some interested residents. While you actually want to maintain a broad focus. This requires socially inclusive development. “The starting point for socially inclusive development is the fair sharing of the benefits and burdens of a sustainable energy project,” Tijmen summarizes. “Here, we look at the entire community. Not just the ‘usual suspects’, but everyone – from young to old. This means you need to employ various methods. Lessons at school for children, information evenings and walk-in meetings for a broad audience. A great example is a big party we organized at Windpark Krammer, the largest citizens’ initiative in the Netherlands. Many young people from the neighborhood also had a fun evening there.”

Staying in Conversation

Direct neighbors of a sustainable energy project have a different role. Tijmen: “We keep in touch with them through, for example, a sounding board group or kitchen table conversations. Preferably, we jointly determine what they can have a say in.” Socially inclusive development doesn’t mean there’s always 100% support. “Sometimes the interests are too different. Then the best achievable outcome is that opponents eventually say: if it has to happen, then with you. Because you listen and actually do something with our input.”

Finances and Risks

Financial participation is an inseparable part of socially inclusive development. “If you want to distribute the burdens and benefits, it also means sharing the profits of your sustainable energy project with the community. There are various forms of financial participation, from shared ownership to bonds. The form you choose depends, among other things, on the financial risks you want to take. Generally speaking: the earlier you get in, the bigger the value step you can make. But financial participation is also possible at a later stage. Both for cooperatives themselves and for residents.”

Continued Involvement

Once your project is completed, the challenge remains to keep the community involved. This can be done, for example, through nature-inclusive development of your wind or solar park, making it an attractive area. “At solar park De Blauwe Poort, we created a wetland area with many species of plants and animals. When volunteers then take on the nature maintenance, a bond with the park is created. You can also consider a food forest or vegetable garden. Or a community fund, with which you can support sports clubs, associations, and other local initiatives.

What always helps, in every phase of a project: telling and showing what you do. Tijmen: “Organize open days, even during construction. People are often very interested in this. Show your face as a cooperative. This is how you create a sense of togetherness.”

GreenTrust Consultancy biedt energiecoöperaties ondersteuning op het gebied van communicatie, participatie en omgevingsmanagement. Van communicatieadvies, stakeholdermanagement en publiekscampagnes tot het opzetten en begeleiden van participatietrajecten en ledenwerving. Meer weten? Neem contact op met Tijmen of Christine.