ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the politics of renewable energy in Germany and Canada. It provides an overview of their energy systems, their climate change and renewable energy policies, and their efforts to transform their energy systems. An evaluation of current developments is provided. The chapter then zooms into the sub-national jurisdictions of Brandenburg and Ontario which are forerunners in energy system transformation. Brandenburg is a typical instance of Germany’s approach to energy system change in that it has long supported its fossil fuel industry in parallel with renewable energy development. Ontario has phased out coal, uses an important share of nuclear power and has followed Germany’s example of a feed-in tariff for renewables that was decided on in 2009. The chapter discusses the main policies and developments behind Brandenburg and Ontario’s forerunner status in wind energy development. This includes a discussion of their policy programs, the discourses behind their adoption and the way they are implemented in the space of participation.
