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Community benefit tools
When a new renewable energy development is announced in your area, it’s natural to have questions about how it might impact your community.
- What long-term benefits will this project bring to the community?
- How will this impact the local environment?
- What types of support or investment can the developer offer the community?
- Will local workers and businesses be involved in this project?
- What plans are in place for the project after it is decommissioned?
Community benefit tools provide a way for residents and local organizations to engage with developers and ensure that community priorities are considered throughout the project. These tools can help align development with local values and needs. Examples of benefits that could be secured include local hires, pollinator habitat, funding for community services, and more.
Common types of community benefit tools include:
- Community Benefit Agreements
- Good Neighbor Agreements
- Local ordinances that require Community Benefit Agreements or similar measures
A Community Benefit Agreement is a formal process that allows community groups to negotiate directly with developers, often in partnership with local governments. These coalitions can outline specific needs and concerns, such as environmental protections, job creation, or infrastructure improvements.
The result can be a legally binding agreement that commits the developer to deliver the agreed-upon benefits. This ensures that new developments contribute positively to the community.
Access resources that cover common types of community benefits, the community benefit process, and templates for community benefit ordinances or agreements at Fair Shake Legal Services Community Benefits Guide.
Explore wind-specific resources, including some from Illinois, with the federal WINDExchange Community Benefits Guide.
To learn more about the Community Benefit Agreements process, or what types of benefits can be offered, watch a recorded past webinar on community benefits from experts at the Rocky Mountain Institute and Fair Shake Legal Services.
Your community is not at the whim of renewable energy developers. Companies who want to build in your area are often obligated to partner with you to provide economic and community development benefits. Join this webinar to learn more about these Community Benefits programs and how you can make...
Note, this webpage does not serve as legal advice. With the passage of Public Act 102-1123 by the Illinois legislature in 2023, there may be limits on allowable community benefits. Please consult your legal counsel when drafting Community Benefit Agreements.