A major transition of the energy sector is needed if the global issues of energy security, energy access, sustainable development and climate change are all to be adequately addressed this century. Whereas many of the policy initiatives and negotiations relating to energy and climate change are being undertaken at the national and international levels, in parallel many leading cities and towns are taking their own decisions concerning their energy destiny — and their actions are beginning to have an impact. Their collective voice is starting to be heard at meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC), including at the most recent climate talks which are aiming
to reach a new framework agreement. The IEA analysis outlined in this report supports these more local endeavors, provides an overview of renewable energy resources and technologies and identifies and describes several successful case studies, ranging from mega-cities of several million people to small communities of only a few hundred.

In contrast to the common resistance against new energy project developments by local residents and businesses commonly (known as NIMBY — “Not In My Back Yard”), the manner in which many cities, towns, and their residents have embraced local renewable energy developments has caused the contrasting term YIMFY — “Yes In My Front Yard” to be coined in the title of this report. 

This book examines the potential for the greater deployment of renewable technologies in built-up environments, including implications for supporting policy development. It evaluates successful local policies in selected towns and cities that have enabled the cost-effective deployment of renewable energy (including by investing in “green” electricity projects and purchases, distributed heat and power generation and transport biofuels). These initiatives are often developed in association with national policies and in accordance with supportive energy efficiency measures.

Download the document from here.