Supporting actors: The role of state policy and private programs in advancing local and renewable heating technology

Highlights: • Early adopters of energy technology reduce transition risk for intermediate adopters. • Early adopters of energy technology are not strictly motivated by financial factors. • Support of energy technology supply chain reduces risk for intermediate adopters. • Effective strategies to promote energy technology vary for early and later adopters. • Locally based outreach, partnerships and support may increase later adoption. This article examines policy approaches impacting the adoption of alternative energy technology. Researchers investigated the factors affecting the transition to automated wood pellet heating (AWPH) in northeastern US as an example of the early stages of an energy transition in small-scale heating. The research team applied diffusion of innovation theory and the multi-level perspective on sociotechnical transitions to develop a system-wide analysis of the AWPH transition, incorporating multiple actor groups and policy strategies. Sixty interviews were conducted across four northeastern states with adopters and informed non-adopters of AWPH, and with industry, policy, and community representatives. Using interview results and theory, surveys were developed and distributed state-wide to both adopters and non-adopters with 690 useable responses (38% response rate). Qualitative and quantitative data analysis found differences in the factors impacting AWPH adoption between those within the Model Neighborhood Project (MNP), a privately-run program aimed at accelerating the diffusion of AWPH, and those who had access to state-run programs alone. These differences and the success of the MNP suggest that policy aimed at supporting early-stage energy transitions should incorporate not only consumer financial incentives, but also build a local network of supply-side actors through community-based outreach and technical support.