Fellow's Profile
Jennifer Watson
Fellow's Profile
Jennifer Watson
Bringing People with Us: Legitimacy, Trust and Community Benefit in Net Zero
Fellowship
- Themes
- Focus
-
Building community trust in clean energy projects
- Countries
- Fellowship year
-
2026
- Supported by
Contact
Biography
I work in public affairs, advising organisations on energy, infrastructure and community engagement. My Fellowship will explore how communities can play a more active role in the clean energy transition, and how renewable energy projects can build trust as well as deliver local benefit.
Through advising on major energy projects, I have seen a recurring challenge. Even where communities are offered significant financial benefit, this does not always translate into confidence or support. That suggests the question is not only how much money is offered, but how communities are involved, who makes decisions, and whether the process feels credible, transparent and lasting.
I will visit Vancouver, California, New York and Denmark to learn from researchers, policymakers, developers and local organisations. I want to understand how different places approach community ownership, local decision-making, statutory benefit requirements and long-term governance around clean energy. I hope to identify what conditions build community trust in clean energy infrastructure, beyond financial compensation alone, and what the UK could learn to deliver net zero.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
