Fuelled by Fire: Ascending the Damning Paradox of Fossil Fuel Energies in our Communities

Resultant of structural-cultural constructs, fossil fuel energies continue to dominate material life. However, as anthropogenic climate change is afforded increasing legitimacy, communities across North America are beginning to advance mitigation efforts. Accordingly, I seek to shed light on those processes, their challenges, and how to go about navigating such issues, with the intent of expediting such processes for all communities. As such, I examine Guelph’s extensive experience with implementing their Community Energy Initiative, through document review, attending various community meetings, and conducting interviews with key informants. Results show that reducing emissions in communities is much less a technical issue, but rather, primarily socioeconomic in nature, where finances, ideologies, and spurring broad public action are central issues. Accordingly, I advance a three pillar, solution focused framework, consisting of the concepts of enablement, guiding principles, and community engagement. It is hoped that this framework helps communities navigate the rocky road of decarbonisation.