Bridging the policy implementation gap: a draft design method for assessment frameworks

Abstract

To deal with the pressure on urban energy infrastructures, renewable urban planning is on the rise and ambitious sustainability targets have been set to transform cities. Although these targets have resulted in many sustainable policies, the implementation of sustainability policies is lagging, hindering the energy transition. One such case, is the geothermal energy sector of the Netherlands, specifically in the urban environment. To overcome this implementation gap, this study investigates the role that assessment frameworks (afwegingskaders) might be able to play. To explore both the design of assessment frameworks and the key issues of urban geothermal energy development, the main research question investigates how assessment frameworks can support local policy making in dealing with the complexity of urban geothermal energy development in the Netherlands. The aim of this research is to develop a draft design method for assessment frameworks and to create a basis from which local assessment frameworks on urban GE can be designed. The draft design method for assessment frameworks has been developed by researching existing assessment frameworks and by studying literature on public decision-making. The case of urban geothermal energy has been investigated by conducting multiple rounds of interviews with several diverse representatives of the urban geothermal energy sector.
The draft design method takes a 4 step process to design an assessment framework along the lines of a value hierarchy: gathering norms by analyzing the public debate; deriving values from these norms; specifying the values and norms into final intervention specifications; and lastly justifying each final specification, making the trade-offs between the different values and norms explicit and traceable, and hereby reflecting on the balance between long and short term values and ambitions of the municipality.
For the case of urban geothermal energy development, four key issues have been identified. These are: collective action, which concerns the directing of the different actors involved; effective citizens communication, which addresses the challenge of social acceptance; lead times, which concerns the long and still inefficient processes of permit procedures; and financing, which addresses the challenges of investment in a relatively new and inherently uncertain industry.
The following recommendations can be made. The design method for assessment frameworks needs refinement. The next step in developing this draft is to work out all four steps extensively. For the development of local assessment frameworks for urban geothermal energy, it is advised to help municipalities in creating an assessment framework by doing preliminary work to make the four-step process accessible. It is advised to generate a general list of values, norms, and suggested final specifications. Also, a draft can be created for the context chapter, detailing the national context of the heat transition. In doing so, municipalities only need to: 1) connect the drafted context chapter to their local energy transition policies; 2) evaluate with their citizens if the list of values and norms is adequate; 3) design intervention requirements based the suggested interventions; and then 4) consult with their citizens if the political choices made are clear and just.