Small hydro: a tool for sustainable community development in rural Canada

Breen, Sarah-Patricia (2009) Small hydro: a tool for sustainable community development in rural Canada. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

An examination of the use of small hydro as a tool for sustainable community development, this dissertation combines research from the fields of community development, sustainability, and renewable energy development. Historically, community owned small hydro has been used for the benefit of local communities, initially through the provision of services and later through the generation of revenue. Current literature suggests that there is also a strong link between community energy and sustainability. Through an examination of four community-owned small hydro case studies, this research employed semi-structured interviews and sustainable development indicators to examine how each of the communities developed and used small hydro for the betterment of the community. This examination provided the basis for an evaluation of the overall impact of small hydro on community sustainability. Additionally, this dissertation discusses the connection, or lack thereof, between sustainability, energy use, energy generation, and the surrounding institutions (i.e. the energy disconnect).

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