# Chapter 3 Building Healthy and Satisfied Local Communities

## Section 1 Reconstruction from the Disaster

The Seven Principles for the Reconstruction Framework emphasize the importance of strengths of the local communities in the disaster-affected areas to bring about rehabilitation and reconstruction accompanied by technological innovation. The aim of these efforts is not just to create a leading, economic society in the affected areas,

## 1 Introducing Renewable Energy to the Tohoku Region

## (1) Potential for Introducing Renewable Energy to the Tohoku Region

Promoting the introduction of renewable energy not only helps in mitigating climate change but also creates communities that are highly resilient in the face of disasters and energy risks, thanks to the establishment of distributed, self-relient energy supply systems.

The Ministry of the Environment has carried out a Survey on the Potential for Introducing Renewable Energy. The results of this survey are being used as basic data in studies on future policies aimed at promoting widespread adoption of renewable energy. In this study, “available resources” are defined as being energy stocks that are theoretically estimable from such factors as available installation area, average wind speed, and river flow rate, and without consideration of various constraining factors (land slope, laws and regulations, land use, distance from residential areas, and so on). Energy stocks for which various constraining factors relating to the extraction and use of energy are taken into account in determining whether or not installation is feasible are defined and estimated as “introduction potential.” Energy stocks that are expected to be realized given certain business income and expenditure but also to revitalize the Japanese economy. In order to achieve this, Japan will need to provide support in terms of overall policy and institutional design. Also, to revitalize the livelihood of local communities, it is important to maintain the social cohesion that exists within these communities.

related scenarios (assumptions) are defined and estimated as the "scenario-specific introducible volume."

Estimated results for renewable energy introduction potential were: 150 million kW for non-residential photovoltaic power generation; 280 million kW for land-based wind power generation; 1.6 billion kW for ocean-based wind power generation; 14 million kW for micro- and mid-scale hydroelectric power generation (less than 30,000 kW for rivers and agricultural water channels); and 14 million kW for geothermal power generation. It is essential to keep in mind that these estimates include values from existing development areas.

Detailed estimates of the renewable energy introduction potential in the Tohoku region are also being carried out. Great introduction potential exists for wind power generation, with up to 83 billion kWh per year being possible (this would be equal to the 82.7 billion kWh per year sold by the Tohoku Electric Power Company). In terms of geothermal power generation, Tohoku is on a par with Kyushu in terms of suitable locations. In summary, the Tohoku region has great potential for the introduction of renewable energy, and renewable energy use is seen as being an important point of consideration in the reconstruction of the Tohoku region.