ABSTRACT
From a Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspective, energy is not just an industry; it is also a complex, technological system that includes hardware, software, natural resources, governing policies, organizations, and political conflicts. The growth and configuration of these systems are largely determined by governing policies. Factors that have caused the slow pace of energy-transition policy throughout the world include lack of adequate energy supply, economic advantages from the extraction and sale of fossil-fuel resources, geopolitical rivalry, and political polarization. STS perspectives can help to identify choices in energy sources and system design that may facilitate broad political support for energy transitions. Examples include a focus on customer-controlled generation, cost savings, economic development opportunities, and local quality of life. An STS perspective on the politics of design choices can also help to configure sustainability goals in ways that also meet other pressing social values and goals, such as resilience, fairness, and air quality.
