Megawatts mask impacts: Small hydropower and knowledge politics in the Puelwillimapu, Southern Chile

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dc.contributor.authorKelly, Sarah
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-23T21:12:18Z
dc.date.available2025-01-23T21:12:18Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractInternationally, high head diversion small hydropower is being developed in mountainous regions. In contrast to the history of large reservoir hydropower's well-documented social and environmental impacts, scholarship is only beginning to examine the impacts of small hydropower in river basins around the world. While a number of articles globally emphasize the principle ecological impacts of small hydropower, few articles examine the social impacts, and fewer still draw from ethnographic or collaborative inquiry with affected peoples. Through an ethnographic, collaborative research approach with Mapuche-Williche Indigenous leaders in the Puelwillimapu Territory of southern Chile, I interrogate how the interrelated social and environmental impacts of small hydropower cited in Environmental Assessments compare with those lived and perceived by affected Mapuche-Wiliche communities. Small hydropower development targets areas of cultural significance in Mapuche territory, generating considerable conflict. Additionally, knowledge politics shape and obscure small hydropower's impacts. Analyzing two case studies, I argue that judging a small hydropower project's size by megawatts can mask significant impacts. The current trend to design environmental regulation for small hydropower based on megawatts is shortsighted, infringing upon Indigenous rights. In Chile, harmful projects are being developed without consulting Mapuche-Williche people. Small hydropower's impacts are expressed in not only ecological fragmentation, but also in the fragmentation of social relationships and ancestral knowledge recognition. Thus, this article seeks to expand our notion of what counts as an impact to include those that Indigenous communities identify as important. In conclusion, I provide recommendations for improving small hydropower regulation and Indigenous Consultation for hydropower. Reflecting on an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, this paper contributes methodologically to the field of energy and social sciences.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.erss.2019.04.014
dc.identifier.eissn2214-6326
dc.identifier.issn2214-6296
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.04.014
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/100950
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000471789600022
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final235
dc.pagina.inicio224
dc.revistaEnergy research & social science
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectSmall hydropower
dc.subjectIndigenous rights
dc.subjectRenewable energy
dc.subjectCollaborative research
dc.subjectEthnography
dc.subjectWater
dc.subject.ods09 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
dc.subject.ods07 Affordable and Clean Energy
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.ods11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
dc.subject.odspa09 Industria, innovación e infraestructura
dc.subject.odspa07 Energía asequible y no contaminante
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.subject.odspa11 Ciudades y comunidades sostenibles
dc.titleMegawatts mask impacts: Small hydropower and knowledge politics in the Puelwillimapu, Southern Chile
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen54
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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