Abstract
Regional problems are an unavoidable issue in capitalist development and therefore, inevitable, require a policy response, though such responses are often inadequate or further reproduce the problem (Hudson, 2011). Layered on top of the need for interventions in particular places facing economic depletion is an increasing awareness within government, at a variety of scales, of the need to respond, or to be seen to be responding, to issues of global climate change and carbon emissions. As such, many governments are setting renewable energy goals and promoting renewable industries. The decentralized nature of most renewable energy sources matches well with the need for government to respond to regional developmental issues.