Collaborative governance in the implementation and maintenance of wind farms in the state of Ceará

A governança colaborativa na implantação e manutenção de parques eólicos no estado do Ceará

Abstract

Objective:

To analyze how Collaborative Governance [GC] manifests itself in the implementation and maintenance of wind farms, from the community’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach:

Qualitative research, with the object of the research being the “local communities” in the cities of Icaraí de Amontada, Trairi and São Gonçalo do Amarante, located in the state of Ceará, in wind energy enterprises”. To analyze and interpret the in-depth interviews, the Content Analysis [AC] was chosen, with Atlas TI as a support tool.

Results:

The results demonstrate that energy distribution needs to be seen as a collective good and the relationship between the company and the community should be based on GC, where public and private agents work collectively and collaboratively, in addition to the need for a social license to operate [LSO] for projects that have an impact on community life as a result of such governance. In the initial conditions of the collaborative process, there was a sense of trust at the beginning of the establishment of the wind farms that was not sustained during maintenance. It also shows the importance of a face-to-face communication, since the community’s most important resource and source of income is at stake: the land.

Originality/value:

This research is notable for its contribution and originality in exploring the theoretical constructs of Collaborative Governance and its practice in the construction of company-community relationships in wind farms from the community’s perspective.

Keywords:
Collaboration; Confidence; Community; Collaborative governance