VIEWS ON THE EXPANSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE: AMONG CONFLICTS, CONTROVERSIES AND POSSIBILITIES

Abstract

This paper seeks to understand how emerging renewable energies contribute to global sustainability while generating local socio-environmental impacts and conflicts, analyzing the speeches of the actors involved in defending or not the current implementation model of these energies in Rio Grande do Norte (RN). Methodologically, the paper used a methodology with a qualitative approach, carrying out a case study of RN based on speeches from actors linked to the most diverse emerging renewable energy sectors in the state, in order to analyze, in general, sustainability issues global and local socio-environmental impacts and conflicts generated by these energies. As a data collection instrument, a bibliographic survey and other secondary data were used, being analyzed through content analysis. Based on the data obtained, the results of this paper consider that emerging renewable energies are sources that contribute to achieving global sustainability when they support the energy transition, decarbonization and combating climate change. However, from the case of RN, it is possible to observe how emerging renewable energies produce unsustainability at the local level, generating impacts and conflicts in territories and their populations. Although, this is not the discourse, above all, of the state government of RN and its representatives, as well as actors linked to the private sector, who argue that such energies are renewable, clean, sustainable, and generators of regional and local development.