Can Digital Infrastructure Construction Promote Energy Conservation in Resource-Based Cities? Evidence from the “Broadband China” Strategy

Resource-based cities in China face severe challenges in reducing energy consumption due to their heavy industrial structures and strong dependence on fossil fuels. Using the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study applies a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model, together with mediation and spatial econometric approaches, to identify local, indirect, and spillover effects. The results show that the strategy significantly reduces energy consumption in resource-based cities. Mechanism analysis reveals that the “Broadband China” strategy reduces energy use in resource-based cities by promoting green technology innovation and financial development. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the energy-saving effect is more pronounced in mature and regenerating cities, non-old-industrial-based cities, and key environmental protection cities. Spatial evaluation further shows that the “Broadband China” strategy exerts a negative spatial spillover effect on energy consumption in neighboring resource-based cities. Our findings provide valuable insights for resource-based cities in China to control energy consumption and achieve sustainable development. Our findings provide practical policy implications for resource-based cities in China, supporting strategies to achieve energy conservation development and advance sustainable transformation.