Community Benefit Agreements

Wind Energy Community Benefits Database

This searchable database reflects community benefit agreements (CBAs), community benefit funds, donations, and other forms of benefits from land-based and offshore wind energy developments in the U.S. compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) from 2022 to 2024.

If you would like to submit a CBA that is not represented in this database, please email windcommunitybenefits@nrel.gov .

For more information about how community benefits are developed and the role they play in wind energy development, please visit the Wind Energy Community Benefits Guide. Learn more about the community impacts of wind farms.

What Forms of Community Benefits Does This Database Include?

Community benefits for wind energy projects can be structured in many ways, but the following categories are the most common and are the focus of this database:
Developers and representatives of a government or community may sign an agreement stating the benefits that will be provided from a project and detailing the mechanisms and timelines for delivering benefits. Terminology may vary, depending on factors like the type of infrastructure or who the signatories are. Common names or types include community benefit agreement, host community agreement, good neighbor agreement, and tribal benefit agreement.
Developers may provide payments, donations, or other financial benefits to a local or Tribal government outside of the bounds of a formal agreement; these are often one-time payments.
Developers may establish funds that distribute funding to different causes or recipients in the community over time, often through the form of grants. Terminology and structure may vary, with common names or types including community benefit fund, community fund, or scholarship fund.
Developers may directly donate or contribute to local organizations, programs, or causes in the community (e.g., schools, fire departments, community service organizations).
291 results Download
Project Name
State
County
Form of Benefit
Additional Form
Infrastructure Type
Number of Turbines
Generating Capacity (MW)
Year Built
Spring Valley Nevada White Pine County Donation/support to local cause Non-financial Land-based wind energy project 66 152 2012
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Pattern Energy

  • Spring Valley Wind partners with Great Basin College to provide ongoing funding for engineering and energy-focused education programs.

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy agreed to donate unused right-of-way acreage within the Spring Valley Wind project footprint, allowing that land to be part of the Bahsahwahbee National Momunent. This was done in partnership with the the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, and Ely Shoshone Tribe; the Tribes are working to preserve and commemorate Bahsahwahbee as a National Monument within the National Park Service. Spring Valley Wind is located on Bureau of Land Management land.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Groton New Hampshire Grafton County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 24 48 2012
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Iberdrola

  • Around 2014, Ibedrola donated to the Groton Historical Society on behalf of the Groton Wind Farm. Funds were used to replace the porch on Schoolhouse #4, the last remaining one-room schoolhouse in Groton, New Hampshire.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Broadview New Mexico Curry County (NM), Deaf Smith County (TX) Donation/support to local cause Payment to government outside of an agreement Land-based wind energy project 141 324 2017
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Pattern Energy

  • Broadview Wind’s Community Benefits Program has involved donations to the Broadview Firehouse, Bootleg Volunteer Fire Department, the No Worries Wall Project, Angel Ministries, and a Back to School Festival. This has included a $34,000 donation to the Bootleg Fire Department and $2,500 donation to help with roof repair at Angel Ministries.

  • Broadview Wind has donated $150,000 to the Village of Grady and $150,000 to the Grady Municipal School District.

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy donated six jump bags with AED systems to the Curry County Road Department to support emergency response; this donation was on behalf of the Grady and Broadview wind projects Pattern owns in the county.

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy donated $25,000 to the Shelter Fund at the Community Foundation of Lincoln County to support residents of Lincoln County that have been impacted by wildfires and flooding. The donation was made on behalf of the Western Spirit, Broadview, Grady, and SunZia wind farms.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Grady New Mexico Curry County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 84 220 2019
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Pattern Energy

  • Grady Wind has supported local organizations, including schools and first responders; this includes a $200,000 donation to a local charitable organization.

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy donated six jump bags with AED systems to the Curry County Road Department to support emergency response; this donation was on behalf of the Grady and Broadview wind projects Pattern owns in the county.

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy donated $25,000 to the Shelter Fund at the Community Foundation of Lincoln County to support residents of Lincoln County that have been impacted by wildfires and flooding. The donation was made on behalf of the Western Spirit, Broadview, Grady, and SunZia wind farms.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Macho Springs Wind Farm I New Mexico Luna County Non-financial Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 28 50 2011
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Capital Power

  • Capital Power has supported local organizations and events, including the Deming Chamber Annual Gala, Luna County DWI Prevention Program, Great American Duck Race, Deming Luna County Crime Stoppers, Camp Innoventure, and MainStreet Luna County Salsa Festival.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Oso Grande New Mexico Lea County, Chaves County Donation/support to local cause Non-financial Land-based wind energy project 61 250 2020
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Tuscon Electric Power

  • In 2021, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) donated $50,000 to more than 20 organizations in the White Mountains community near the Springerville Generating Center and rural New Mexico near the Oso Grande wind farm. This was part of $2.1 million total that TEP donated to 176 nonprofits and causes focusing on community assistance, education, and environmental stewardship.

  • In 2022, TEP donated $2,500 to the Roswell unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaves and Lincoln Counties. This donation, combined with contributions from other local businesses, is being used to cover a year’s worth of fuel, maintenance, and other expenses for vans transporting youth. TEP employees also volunteered with the club during a free Thanksgiving meal event, serving about 200 people.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
San Juan Mesa New Mexico Roosevelt County, Chaves County Non-financial Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 120 120 2005
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Clearway Energy Group

  • The San Juan Mesa team installed siding at a school playground and supports youth sports in the town of Elida.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Western Spirit New Mexico Torrance County, Guadeloupe County, Lincoln County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 377 1050 2021
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Pattern Energy

  • Western Spirit Wind has supported local organizations, including the Tri-County Community Group, the Community Foundation of Lincoln County, and the Duran Mutual Domestic Heritage Society (for restoration of a historic school building).

  • In 2024, Pattern Energy donated $25,000 to the Shelter Fund at the Community Foundation of Lincoln County to support residents of Lincoln County that have been impacted by wildfires and flooding. The donation was made on behalf of the Western Spirit, Broadview, Grady, and SunZia wind farms.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Arkwright Summit New York Chautauqua County Formal agreement Land-based wind energy project 36 78 2018
Developed, Owned, or Operated by EDP Renewables

  • Through a host community agreement with the town of Arkwright, the Arkwright Summit wind farm pays a minimum of $3,800 per megawatt per year in host community payments; these payments continue over the lifespan of the project and increase with inflation. This is in addition to PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments paid to the county, town, and school districts.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Baron Winds New York Steuben County Formal agreement Land-based wind energy project 32 122 2021
Developed, Owned, or Operated by RWE

  • For the Baron Winds project, RWE established four separate host community agreements with the communities of Dansville, Fremont, Cohocton, and Wayland. Payment amounts differ slightly between the agreements, mainly dependent on how many turbines are in each town. The agreements include a one-time Construction Period Payment (in consideration of impacts associated with construction of the project) in the amount of $1,000 times the total number of turbines constructed in the town. Annually, RWE pays each town a host community fee in an amount of $2,500-3,000 (differs depending on the town) per MW of nameplate rated capacity for each turbine installed in the town. These payments are adjusted annually for inflation. RWE also committed to reimbursing the towns for all reasonable costs, fees, and expenses paid to special legal counsel and the on-site monitor incurred in connection with the project.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
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What Forms of Community Benefits Are Not Included in This Database?

CBAs and related forms of community benefits may be provided alongside other agreements or economic impacts that serve different purposes, such as:

  • Land lease payments to landowners that host wind turbines.
  • Project labor agreements for construction of wind energy projects.
  • Taxes or tax agreements like payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs).
  • Direct compensation to impacted stakeholders, such as commercial fishermen.

This database does not include these other types of wind energy benefits, as they differ from CBAs and related benefit mechanisms in several key ways; namely, the community benefits included in this database are unrelated to taxation, are intended to provide benefits to the community as a whole rather than a specific group of people, like landowners, and are separate from impact mitigation measures required by permitting agencies.