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
Noble Bliss New York Wyoming County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 67 101 2008
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Noble Environmental Power / AES

  • Through a host community agreement with the Town of Eagle, Noble Bliss provides the town with a minimum of $6,400 per megawatt per year; these payments increase with inflation. This is in addition to PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements with the town, county, school districts, and other taxing jurisdictions. With this revenue, the Town of Eagle has eliminated taxes and garbage fees.

  • Since 2022, AES has provided more than $120,000 in donations in Wyoming County, including donations to the Autism Nature Trail, Friends of Letchworth State Park, Village of Arcade, Eagle Free Library, and Peers Together of Wyoming County. These donations are associated with both of AES' wind projects in Wyoming County: Chateaugay and Wethersfield. AES' Social Impact Program focuses on access to efficient and affordable energy and basic services, inclusive economic growth, education, community resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Noble Chateaugay New York Franklin County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 71 107 2009
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Noble Environmental Power / AES

  • Through a host community agreement with the Town of Chateaugay, Noble Chateaugay pays a minimum of $3,000 per megawatt, totaling about $321,000, per year; these payments increase with inflation. The county, town and school district also receive PILOT payments of $3,000 per megawatt, subject to inflation.

  • Since 2021, AES has provided more than $130,000 in donations in Franklin County, including donations to Chateaugay Revitalization Committee, Chateaugay Rotary, Chateaugay Central School, North Franklin Education Center, Burke Volunteer Fire Department, Burke Adult Center, Burke Foothills EMS Center, Wilder Farm, Citizen Advocates in Malone, Malone Minor Hockey, and the Chateaugay 10K Committee. AES' Social Impact Program focuses on access to efficient and affordable energy and basic services, inclusive economic growth, education, community resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Noble Clinton New York Clinton County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 67 102 2008
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Noble Environmental Power / AES

  • Through a host community agreement with the Town of Clinton, Noble Clinton pays $3,000 per megawatt annually in host community fees; these payments increase with inflation. This is in addition to PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments to the the county, town, and school district.

  • Since 2022, AES has provided more than $120,000 in donations in Clinton County, including donations to the Ellenburg Center Fire Department, Altona Fire Department, Churubusco Fire Department, and North Adirondacks Central School District. These donations are associated with three AES wind projects in Clinton County: Clinton, Ellenburg, and Altona. AES' Social Impact Program focuses on access to efficient and affordable energy and basic services, inclusive economic growth, education, community resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Noble Ellenburg New York Clinton County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 54 81 2008
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Noble Environmental Power / AES

  • Through a host community agreement with the Town of Ellenburg, Noble Ellenburg pays a minimum of $3,000 per megawatt, totaling around $243,000, in Host Community payments; these payments increase with inflation.

  • Since 2022, AES has provided more than $120,000 in donations in Clinton County, including donations to the Ellenburg Center Fire Department, Altona Fire Department, Churubusco Fire Department, and North Adirondacks Central School District. These donations are associated with three AES wind projects in Clinton County: Clinton, Ellenburg, and Altona. AES' Social Impact Program focuses on access to efficient and affordable energy and basic services, inclusive economic growth, education, community resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Noble Wethersfield New York Wyoming County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 84 126 2009
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Noble Environmental Power / AES

  • Since 2022, AES has provided more than $120,000 in donations in Wyoming County, including donations to the Autism Nature Trail, Friends of Letchworth State Park, Village of Arcade, Eagle Free Library, and Peers Together of Wyoming County. These donations are associated with both of AES' wind projects in Wyoming County: Chateaugay and Wethersfield. AES' Social Impact Program focuses on access to efficient and affordable energy and basic services, inclusive economic growth, education, community resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Number Three Wind Energy Center New York Lewis County Fund Land-based wind energy project 27 103.9 2023
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Invenergy

  • Invenergy established a $6 million community support fund through Number Three, which can be used throughout Lewis County over the next 30 years (2023-2053). Funds can begiven to a variety of recipients, including small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Orangeville New York Wyoming County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 58 94 2013
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Invenergy

  • Through a host community agreement with the town of Orangeville, Orangeville Wind pays host community fees; the exact financial structure has not been made public, but in 2018, the town received $517,342 in host community fees. The host community agreement and PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement total $667,000 annually for the town of Orangeville.

  • In 2020, Orangeville Wind donated funds to repair and maintain facilities at the Wyoming County 4-H Camp.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal New York Brooklyn Fund Non-financial Offshore wind energy port N/A N/A 2024-
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Equinor / New York City Economic Development Corporation

  • In 2022, NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) and Equinor committed to establishing a $5 million ecosystem fund to support New York City residents in entering the offshore wind industry. The clean energy community grant fund is designed to support sustainable growth, workforce development, empowerment of underserved communities, and climate justice in the city’s emerging offshore wind ecosystem.

  • In 2023, NYC EDC established the Waterfront Pathways program, which provides education and direct support to help businesses navigate the contract bidding process. The program aims to increase opportunities for minority-, women-, and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises in the offshore wind and waterfront industries

  • Equinor has committed to making the port a low-emissions facility.

  • As suggested by the community, Equinor will establish an offshore wind energy learning center near the terminal.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
South Fork New York East Hampton Formal agreement Fund Offshore wind energy cable landing N/A N/A 2023
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Ørsted / Eversource

  • Through a host community agreement with Ørsted and Eversource, the town of East Hampton, NY and trustee boards will receive approximately $29 million in addition to property taxes. The agreement includes a $500,000 payment after the agreement was signed, a $500,000 payment after the project began operating, and $700,000 annually (with annual increases) for 25 years. The agreement also establishes a $5.5 million fund held by the town, called the Wainscott Fund, which will be paid into when operations begin and one year into operations. The developers are required to employ a liaison to facilitate communications between the company and the commercial fishing community for the life of the project.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Sunrise New York Brookhaven Formal agreement Offshore wind energy cable landing N/A N/A Under construction in 2024
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Ørsted / Eversource

  • In 2023, the town of Brookhaven, NY signed a host community agreement with Sunrise Wind that will provide a $168.9 million benefit package to the town, county, and other jurisdictions. The package includes $135.95 million in impact fees, which will be paid in 25 installments of $5 million to $6 million annually, starting once the Sunrise project begins producing power; additionally, the package includes a $3 million parks payment aimed to improve public parks and open space and a $2 million hamlet payment that will go toward ambulance and public health services. Within the agreement is also a $28 million PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payment. The town of Brookhaven will receive $130 million from the agreement, with Suffolk County and local school districts sharing the remaining amount.

  • Prior to signing the agreement, Brookhaven's Industrial Development Agency signed a different agreement providing Sunrise Wind with $90 million in tax breaks for construction of the cable landing and an operations center.

Sources

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.