**Almona Tani and Piergiuseppe Morone \***

Bioeconomy in Transition Research Group, Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; almona.tani@unitelmasapienza.it

**\*** Correspondence: piergiuseppe.morone@unitelmasapienza.it

Received: 26 March 2020; Accepted: 20 May 2020; Published: 21 May 2020

**Abstract:** In this paper, we investigate the transition to clean energy technologies in the Boston area, as perceived through the lens of strategic niche management. The main goal of the study was to assess the role of policy in fostering/hindering the development of the clean energy niche and the complete deployment of clean energy technologies in this area. Using argumentative discourse analysis, our research showed that the clean energy niche in the Boston area is generally perceived as strong and dynamic. However, the public de-legitimizing narrative identified gaps at the policy level that include, among others, the limited engagement of the local and federal government in breaking through well-established practices and regulatory frameworks, funding, and infrastructure. These gaps are likely to delay the market uptake of clean energies in this area.

**Keywords:** socio-technical transition; strategic niche management; clean energy technologies; argumentative discourse analysis; innovation policy
