Collaborative governance in “community energy planning”: insights from an intersectoral governance network in Durham Region, Canada

Collaborative governance (CG) has arisen as a useful template for navigating decentralised energy systems at the local level by involving formalised procedures for governance across a network of organisations. By incorporating CG into community energy planning processes, local governments have a framework for involving diverse actors. CG processes, however, also exist within the context of broader systemic constraints and inequalities that impact how organisations collaborate. Given that CG may be seen as a path toward more just and democratic energy governance, it is important for researchers and practitioners to understand both its opportunities and limitations in-practice.Our case study investigates a network of local organisations in Durham Region, Canada, where CG is being used for implementation of the region’s community energy plan. We use a mixed methods approach, incorporating a quantitative social network analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, to examine how and why organisations are collaborating within the local network. Our study illustrates the complexity of these arrangements. While local governments facilitating CG initiatives are well-positioned to mobilise local actors and build connectivity in their community, they are also limited in addressing broader systemic challenges, including asymmetric power dynamics that impact outcomes and erode social trust; resource gaps that exacerbate challenges and lead to competition between organisations; and energy literacy gaps that impede those lacking expertise. Thus, while CG represents an important framework for local energy governance, its potential is constrained by deep-rooted structural limitations that may require comprehensive solutions beyond the capacity of local actors alone.