Place-based approaches to renewable energy transitions tailor solutions to specific social, cultural, economic and ecological contexts inherent to particular localities.

Drawing on transformative energy justice frameworks and approaches, we argue that place-based framings and interpretations of impacts of community renewable energy projects provide the means to centre Indigenous worldviews, observations and experiences of justice associated with these projects.

This co-created study draws on interviews with knowledge holders in 14 First Nations across the Province of British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Interview participants shared experiences and observations on both the process (community engagement) and outcome (impacts and benefits) dimensions of 36 operational and planned renewable energy projects, pointing to a rich diversity of social, political, material, economic, ecological and relational impacts.

Across a wide range of project sizes and technologies, the findings indicate that deep community engagement and the collective decisions for allocation of revenues mediate the positive and transformative impacts experienced by the community.

Taken collectively, these findings show that First Nations approaches to developing projects are place-based, ensuring a wide range of impacts to the community that can collectively contribute to transformative change.

In the broader context of systematic neglect of social, environmental and justice-oriented values in public policy making, and amidst widespread failure of ‘decide-announce-defend’ approaches to achieving social acceptance for renewable energy projects, this study demonstrates what distinguishes place-based approaches in practice, and how they deliver transformative outcomes for First Nations.

Policy, project and resource allocation decisions should reflect the diverse impacts and transformative outcomes of renewable energy projects in First Nations contexts.

We conclude that embedding place-based approaches in institutional arrangements, policy and project design is critical to providing economic opportunities to First Nations without discrimination under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, alongside meeting BC’s power needs and decarbonisation goals.

Authors: Christina E Hoicka, Anna Berka, Sara Chitsaz, Kayla Klym, Adam Regier and Megan Macdonald, Impacts and place-based approaches to transformative energy justice for First Nations, 17 February 2026, IOP Publishing Ltd, Environmental Research: Energy, Volume 3, Number 1

Read the paper

We’re excited to share our new guide providing a general overview of how Australia’s electricity system works, some of the drivers and policy settings driving energy and climate targets, and an example of the steps to develop a renewable energy project.

The Network is concerned the Queensland government's Bill diminishes the value of agreement-making and engaging early and properly with Traditional Owners and First Nations communities.

The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (the Bill) enables proponents to meet their social licence / benefit-sharing obligations by negotiating directly with local governments.

By directing proponents to engage with and enter into community benefit agreements with local councils, the scheme established by the Bill has the potential to silence and diminish the priorities, rights and interests of Traditional Owners and First Nations communities impacted by proposed developments.

The Network recommends that the Queensland Government should clarify that proponents should enter into benefit sharing agreements with Traditional Owners, and that agreements with Traditional Owners should not be set-off or diminished in any way by community benefit agreements with local councils.

Policy frameworks like the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, and schemes like the Future Made in Australia Act 2024 (Cth) and the Capacity Investment Scheme are taking steps towards specifically incorporating First Nations outcomes in their design.

The Bill, as presently framed, fails to appropriately incorporate First Nations rights, interests and perspectives in its processes. This will diminish the planning system as a whole and the potential for it to shape projects that realise the best value for Queensland.

The Network recommends that the Queensland Government:

• establish a First Nations-specific assessment pathway and guidance for proponents engaging with Traditional Owners and First Nations communities
• require that all SIA include a cultural heritage assessment and incorporate First Nations-defined priorities.
• develop templates and resources to support First Nations participation in community benefit agreements, including governance, monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Furthermore, the Network recommends that the Development Assessment Rules and the SIA Guideline must be updated to:

• require proponents to engage with Traditional Owners and First Nations communities early and continuously in the project lifecycle
• recognise First Nations people and groups as rightsholders with specific rights and interests in land, culture and development, and that Traditional Owners and First Nations communities must be engaged with and heard in the development of a SIA
• ensure principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People) is incorporated as a core principle of engagement
• require that providers undertaking social impact assessments must include First Nations people, or at a minimum, ensure that providers are culturally competent and wherever possible, that priority is given to providers with deep local experience and understanding of First Nation community priorities and aspirations in Queensland.

In relation to New State Code 26: Solar farm development, the Network also raises a number of concerns.

Our full submission to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee Inquiry on this Bill can be accessed here.

Read our submission

Project proponents need to do more to engage First Nations people during the clean energy transition.

What does it look like when First Nations groups call the shots?

Through designing early engagement and negotiation protocols for government and industry to follow, this session explores what different nations are doing to flip the narrative and set the standard.

SPEAKERS: Daniel Miller, Barengi Gadjin, Daryle Rigney, Jason Bilney, Sonja Dare, Heidi Norman (Facilitator)

Many Traditional Owner groups are contemplating new proposed offshore wind and renewable energy developments on Land and Sea country.

Of primary concern is that rights and interests on Land and Sea are protected, consent has been obtained, and that family and community are participating in and garnering or generating significant benefits through energy projects.

This session looks at where First Nations groups can influence policy and process to ensure meaningful engagement and consent, sincere partnerships, and healthy equity shares.

SPEAKERS: Levi Lovett, Jamie Woods, Kerry Colbung, Keicha Day, Kathy Ridge (Facilitator)