Citizen engagement in the energy transition: Assessing the impact of regional energy initiatives on energy behaviors in German households
利用德国家庭面板数据，评估区域能源项目对家庭能源消费、可再生能源技术选择和能效提升的影响，发现项目未能有效促进公民参与。
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of regional government initiatives in actively engaging citizens in the energy transition by promoting changes in energy behavior. Employing micro-level data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and insights from the regional-scale “Project 100% Erneuerbare-Energie-Regionen”, the research adopts a difference-in-differences approach to inspect the impact of residing in these regions on households' energy consumption and their choices regarding renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency enhancements. The findings reveal that the program has not been able to actively involve citizens in the energy transition, showing negative effects on the three outcomes inspected. This research highlights the importance of a comprehensive understanding of local energy programs and the need for policies that foster an inclusive approach to energy transition.