My PhD investigates local climate action in relation to renewable energy projects. The project is funded by the Danish Innovation fond for lasting sustainable solutions.The research focus is on what motivates and hinders communities to take part in local renewable energy projects. How do we move beyond local opposition and conflicts often associated with renewable energy? What are the potentials of democratic, participatory local processes of energy development? My empirical research consists of: - a collaboration with a municipal utility company in Denmark on developing renewable projects in collaboration with community members, businesses, and other various local stakeholders. In the spirit of the Danish tradition for cooperatives, the ambition is that these pilot-projects can turn into frameworks for achieving a sustainable transition to renewable energy on a local level by ensuring community participation, local ownership of, and influence over the transition. - a comparative case study in Northern California on community-based energy initiatives as potential models for ensuring a socially equitable and environmentally just renewable energy transition in an Inflation Reduction Act/justice 40 framework. This research was conducted during a Fulbright fellowship at UC Berkeley.