Local communities in the energy market: A place-based perspective on unconventional hydrocarbon development

This paper discusses the recent events and trajectory of Unconventional Hydrocarbon (UH) development in Europe and the United States, contrasting the `high-politics´ debate on UH with the `place-based´ perspectives of locally impacted communities. The unitary frames that dominate official political debates, industry responses and mainstream media texts, bifurcate UH development as an economy versus environment issue and are sharply contrasted with the more integrated reality of the local simultaneous need to make a living and have a healthy life, both physically and socially. Not being able to situate themselves firmly in either camp (economy/environment), local community members tend to experience the controversy from a conflicted disposition involving both optimism and pessimism and hopes and fears surrounding money, health and community well-being. In this paper, we articulate the more nuanced and conflicted perspectives of “local communities in the energy market” in Europe that challenge the more politicized dichotomy on UH development.