Reclaiming energy justice in Taiwan? Insights on deliberation democracy from the Thao Tribe's renewable energy initiative

• Published in: Energy research & social science 2024-05, Vol.111, p.103485, Article 103485
• Main Author: Fan, Mei-Fang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deliberative democracy; Deliberative system; Energy autonomy; Energy justice; Indigenous deliberation
• ISSN: 2214-6296; 2214-6326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103485

There is limited research on Indigenous deliberation on and participation in renewable energy development and its relationship to the pursuit of energy justice. The article explores the Thao tribe's resistance to energy injustice in Taiwan and the importance of Indigenous deliberation and participation in the energy transition within their traditional territory and in ensuring Indigenous energy justice. It analyzes how the Thao tribe created spaces in which deliberation could occur and actively engaged in deliberation and communication to transmit their narratives. Moreover, through collaboration with renewable nongovernmental organisations and by initiating community-led solar energy projects, the Thao people have taken steps toward achieving energy autonomy. This study demonstrates the functions of interconnectedness and interplay of communication and dialogues across sites, institutions, and practices in reclaiming energy justice, and that the Thao people's energy injustice problems are intertwined with their efforts to reclaim their traditional lands. The findings demonstrate the complexities of energy justice and the necessity for ongoing deliberation and collaboration within tribespeople and among actors in promoting the energy transition and seeking energy justice. •Connecting multiple communication and deliberation sites is crucial to address energy injustice.•Indigenous deliberations on affordable electricity and renewable energy can lead Indigenous people to feel a sense of agency.•The tribal solar initiative is not just about energy generation and affordability electricity, but also about seeking energy autonomy and tribal lands and energy sovereignty.•The necessity for ongoing deliberation and collaboration within tribespeople and among actors in promoting the energy transition and seeking energy justice.