Participation of citizens in local energy decisions is increasingly recognized as helpful for a successful decentralized energy transition. In this article, we focus on energy cooperatives in which private individuals jointly develop facilities to generate energy from renewable sources, thus involving citizens both politically and economically. Focusing on Switzerland and Germany, we show that there is a strong linkage between such cooperatives and municipalities, characterized by collaboration and support, and that the cooperatives are well suited as collaborating partners. We also show that federalist structures are most suited for such local arrangements as municipalities must have leeway to support cooperatives in a targeted manner and to compensate for shortcomings in the energy policy of superordinate governmental levels. Based on these results, we suggest that local governments should be given sufficient financial capacities and autonomy to strengthen implementation of a decentralized energy transition that involves citizens. However, we also recognize that municipal structures alone are often insufficient and that superordinate policies, especially national subsidies, remain essential. Hence, policies at the municipal and national levels should take greater account of citizen initiatives, such as energy cooperatives, which exhibit various noncommodifiable advantages relevant to the energy transition.

中文翻译：

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瑞士和德国地方能源治理安排中的能源合作社和市政当局

公民参与当地能源决策越来越被认为有助于成功的分散能源转型。在本文中，我们关注能源合作社，在该合作社中，私人共同开发设施以利用可再生能源生产能源，从而在政治和经济上让公民参与其中。我们以瑞士和德国为重点，表明此类合作社与市政当局之间存在紧密的联系，以合作和支持为特征，合作社非常适合作为合作伙伴。我们还表明，联邦制结构最适合这样的地方安排，因为市政当局必须有回旋余地以有针对性的方式支持合作社，并弥补上级政府能源政策中的缺陷。基于这些结果，我们建议应赋予地方政府足够的财政能力和自主权，以加强实施涉及公民的分散式能源转型。然而，我们也认识到，仅靠市政结构往往是不够的，上级政策，尤其是国家补贴，仍然必不可少。因此，市政和国家层面的政策应更多地考虑公民倡议，例如能源合作社，它们表现出与能源转型相关的各种非商品化优势。我们还认识到，仅靠市政结构往往是不够的，上级政策，尤其是国家补贴，仍然必不可少。因此，市政和国家层面的政策应更多地考虑公民倡议，例如能源合作社，它们表现出与能源转型相关的各种非商品化优势。我们还认识到，仅靠市政结构往往是不够的，上级政策，尤其是国家补贴，仍然必不可少。因此，市政和国家层面的政策应更多地考虑公民倡议，例如能源合作社，它们表现出与能源转型相关的各种非商品化优势。