Local communities have been identified as crucial actors in the diffusion of renewable energy, considered one of the most important eco-innovations of our time. Anecdotal evidence has indicated that local communities tend to play different roles in promoting eco-innovation, particularly renewable energy. However, what this heterogeneity looks like has not yet been quantitatively examined. Our study addresses this gap by systematically exploring the involvement of communities in the promotion of eco-innovation at the local level. We focus on their participation in renewable energy partnerships with the private sector in rural areas in Israel's southern periphery. Our study indicates that local communities play diverse roles in promoting renewable energy through varying involvement in finance, ownership, knowledge contribution, employment, energy consumption, and, most common according to our findings, the leasing of natural resources. The study further tracks the factors that shape this diverse involvement, including the community’s land size, population size, socio-economic ranking, and experience. Finally, the study unpacks the levels of risks and gains that local communities face when promoting renewable energy through their partnerships with the private sector. By confronting theory with quantitative research, this study sheds light on the diverse roles local communities play in the diffusion of eco-innovation, a prerequisite for renewable energy.

中文翻译：

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社区与私营部门伙伴关系在传播环境创新方面的作用：以色列南部的可再生能源

当地社区已被确定为可再生能源传播的重要参与者，可再生能源被认为是我们这个时代最重要的生态创新之一。轶事证据表明，地方社区往往在促进生态创新，特别是可再生能源方面发挥不同的作用。然而，这种异质性是什么样的还没有被定量地研究过。我们的研究通过系统地探索社区参与促进地方层面的生态创新来解决这一差距。我们重点关注他们参与与以色列南部边缘农村地区私营部门的可再生能源合作伙伴关系。我们的研究表明，当地社区通过不同程度地参与金融、所有权、知识贡献、就业、能源消耗，根据我们的调查结果，最常见的是自然资源的租赁。该研究进一步追踪影响这种多样化参与的因素，包括社区的土地面积、人口规模、社会经济排名和经验。最后，该研究揭示了当地社区在通过与私营部门的伙伴关系推广可再生能源时面临的风险和收益水平。通过将理论与定量研究相结合，本研究阐明了当地社区在传播生态创新方面发挥的不同作用，而生态创新是可再生能源的先决条件。社会经济排名和经验。最后，该研究揭示了当地社区在通过与私营部门的伙伴关系推广可再生能源时面临的风险和收益水平。通过将理论与定量研究相结合，本研究阐明了当地社区在传播生态创新方面发挥的不同作用，而生态创新是可再生能源的先决条件。社会经济排名和经验。最后，该研究揭示了当地社区在通过与私营部门的伙伴关系推广可再生能源时面临的风险和收益水平。通过将理论与定量研究相结合，本研究阐明了当地社区在传播生态创新方面发挥的不同作用，而生态创新是可再生能源的先决条件。