Key Energy Transition Themes Chosen by Yeongam Citizens: Deregulation, Participation, and Benefit Sharing

Yeongam County Energy Center Gathers Policy Suggestions and Opinions
"Citizens' Declaration for Energy Transition" Also Adopted

Yeongam County Energy Center held a citizens' roundtable meeting on the 3rd to share the direction of energy transition policies and to gather citizens' policy proposals and opinions. Photo by Yeongam County

Yeongam County Energy Center, led by Director Oh Sunghyun, held a citizens' roundtable meeting under the theme "Yeongam County Energy Transition, Envisioned by Citizens" at the Yeongam County Citizens' Hall on July 3. The roundtable was organized to share the direction of Yeongam County's energy transition policies and to collect policy proposals and opinions from citizens.

During the three-hour roundtable, key topics for promoting energy transition included the activation of solar power generation, easing of set-back distances for power generation facilities, and citizen participation and benefit sharing.

Yeongam County Mayor Woo Seunghee, Yeongam County Council Vice Chairperson Jeong Woongap, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member Shin Seungcheol, and about 80 citizens participated in lively discussions. Divided into 12 groups, participants focused on five main topics: coexistence of agriculture and energy transition, policies and projects to be implemented by the central and local governments, citizen energy welfare and the establishment of cooperatives and power plants, and energy transition campaigns and education. They shared a wide range of policy tasks and ideas.

Among the outstanding proposals selected by each group, the most common were the relaxation of set-back distance regulations for solar power facilities and the creation of exception clauses for resident cooperatives, both aimed at easing regulations related to power plant licensing.

Notably, participants also adopted the "Yeongam County Citizens' Declaration for Energy Transition Toward a New Future" alongside their policy proposals. In the declaration, they emphasized, "In this era of climate crisis, we can no longer remain silent," and stated, "Energy transition is not a choice but a path to survival, and it marks the beginning of a future we will pass on to our descendants."

Oh Sunghyun, Director of Yeongam County Energy Center, said, "More citizens participated than expected, leading to active discussions and the presentation of various measures for Yeongam's energy transition, making this roundtable especially meaningful." He added, "We will work more proactively to identify and implement effective and impactful policies that citizens can relate to and experience firsthand."