Energy transition (ET) to renewable energy sources (RES) has been identified as a crucial action needed in combating climate change. These societal transitions have barriers which are hard to quantify and thus hard to incorporate in energy modelling scenarios. Full-scale island societies offer a unique position in observing societal changes that accompany ET technology. Islands also offer an understanding of how holistic sustainable development agendas and clear leadership can help facilitate an ET at a local level by identifying local barriers and bottlenecks. The autonomous territory, the Åland Islands, was chosen as a case study to investigate the role municipal governance leadership has on ET. 15 municipal actors in three different governing roles, from five different municipalities, were interviewed in individual semi-structured interviews. The results show that economic barriers were not perceived as a hindrance if local ET planning and budgeting is done thoroughly and followed up. The main barriers identified are social and include gender and age imbalances, lack of transparent communication, segregation of stakeholders and lack of cooperation between municipalities. The interviewees all saw benefits with undertaking an ET, both economically and socially, but seem unsure of who should take on this responsibility. There is lack of local adoption and holistic planning for ET, even if the actors in the municipalities express their willingness to undertake one – but with no clear regional ET agenda or leader to shoulder the task, it is unlikely that Åland will achieve the energy goals set to be reached 2030.