The transition to a more equitable energy system requires reimagining how communities interact with and benefit from energy infrastructure. To advance policy that centers on energy justice, communities must experience material benefits from the energy system and have decision-making authority over energy infrastructure. Benefits can include monetary payments, pollution remediation, infrastructure investment, jobs programs, and health improvements. Policy interventions that account for, track, and allocate meaningful community benefits are key to policy change.
Our community benefits research aims to provide partners with practical tools and knowledge, summarizing lessons learned from diverse community benefit approaches to inform more just and responsive energy policies.
Key Findings
As states move towards a centralized siting and permitting process for renewable energy projects, several are adopting requirements that developers enter into community benefits agreements (CBAs) with community-based organizations or local governments. This policy brief analyzes CBA and other community benefits framework requirements of six states: Michigan, California, Connecticut, Maine, Ohio, and New York in the context of the renewable energy transition. Legislative CBA requirements can potentially ensure robust, enforceable benefits packages for disadvantaged or host communities. CBA requirements do not need to be linked with a state permitting process for renewable energy projects (see Ohio’s case), but it appears to be increasingly common. Legislative CBA requirements should ensure that CBAs are legally binding, enforceable, and negotiated with a coalition of organizations and stakeholders to be most effective.