Energy Citizenship in Bulgaria: Revealing the Current Energy Landscape and the Way Forward
摘要
This chapter examines the energy citizenship landscape in Bulgaria. Based on the review of 22 energy citizenship initiatives in the EnergyPROSPECTS project, the chapter establishes that a typical Bulgarian energy citizenship case can be described in the following way: it is supported by public funds (often the EU), operates on a local or municipal level, does not participate in larger networks, and is managed by or significantly benefits from the involvement of an NGO. The chapter then turns its attention to the external conditions, which support or hinder the emergence and development of energy citizenship in the country. It argues that Bulgaria’s current political situation is, in principle, conducive to cultivating energy citizenship but too unstable to offer concrete support. Technological developments are creating a range of opportunities, while concerns about climate change are a strong source of motivation. The analysis shows that the economic, legal, and social contexts strongly deter the development of energy citizenship in Bulgaria.