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
Minn-Dakota South Dakota Lincoln County (MN), Brookings County (SD) Non-financial Land-based wind energy project 64 96 2007
Developed, Owned, or Operated by PPM Energy / Iberdrola / PacifiCorp

  • In 2008, PPM Energy collaborated with South Dakota State University and engaged three classes at Elkton Public School in a hands-on project to create their own model wind turbines. The initiative included a field trip to a working turbine at the MinnDakota site, providing students with a real-world learning experience about the day-to-day activities of a wind technician.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Sweetland South Dakota Hand County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 47 200 2023
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Scout Clean Energy

  • Scout Clean Energy sponsored upgrades to the electrical and lighting systems at the Hand County 4-H livestock barns.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Tatanka South Dakota Dickey County (ND), McPherson County (SD) Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 120 180 2008
Developed, Owned, or Operated by ACCIONA Energy

  • ACCIONA provides scholarships to students in the areas of four of its wind farms, including Tatanka. Since the program began in 2009, Acciona has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to students interested in careers related to sustainability or renewable energy.

  • ACCIONA supported the Logan County Sheriff Department in acquiring a K-9 dog, providing training for the dog and handling officer, and retrofitting a patrol vehicle.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Tatanka Ridge South Dakota Deuel County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 56 155 2021
Developed, Owned, or Operated by WEC Energy Group / Avangrid / Invenergy

  • In 2022, several of Invenergy's wind projects in South Dakota - Deuel Harvest, Tatanka Ridge, and Coyote Ridge - sponsored the annual Gary Rodeo.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Triple H South Dakota Hyde County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 92 250 2020
Developed, Owned, or Operated by ENGIE

  • Triple H Wind donated a new freezer, washer, and dryer to Hand in Hand, a community daycare association in South Dakota that heavily depends on community donations.

  • ENGIE has supported local community events, including sponsoring a high school rodeo.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Amadeus Texas Kent County, Stonewall County, Fisher County Fund Land-based wind energy project 96 250 2020
Developed, Owned, or Operated by BayWa r.e.

  • In 2020, BayWa r.e. gave $157,500 to Texas State Technical College to provide Amadeus Wind Energy scholarships to students in Fisher, Kent and Stonewall counties. Students from these counties are eligible for a $10,500 scholarship to study in TSTC’s Wind Energy Technology program in Sweetwater; this covers full tuition cost.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Amazon Wind Farm Texas Texas Scurry County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 110 253 2017
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Lincoln Clean Energy / Ørsted

  • In 2017, Amazon (the power purchaser for the energy generated by the project) donated $50,000 to the Snyder Education Foundation to provide students and teachers with STEM learning opportunities. The Snyder Independent School District used some of the funds to create a virtual lab for STEM education, while other funds will be used to support the Foundation's classroom grants and scholarships for graduating seniors.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Aviator Texas Coke County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 191 525 2020
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Apex Clean Energy

  • Apex has supported local organizations, including booster clubs, a volunteer fire department, and an $18,000 donation to the Robert Lee Independent School District.

Source

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Azure Sky Texas Throckmorton County Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 79 350 2022
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Enel Green Power

  • Enel supports STEM education at Throckmorton Collegiate Independent School District, including supporting KidWind events and funding for a digital marquee that students learn to operate.

  • Enel is partnered with Texas State Technical College to create additional STEM access through drone demonstration programs and scholarship opportunities.

  • As part of its COVID-19 response, Enel supported Throckmorton County Memorial Hospital in acquiring a new ambulance.

Sources

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024
Bobcat Bluff Texas Archer County Payment to government outside of an agreement Land-based wind energy project 100 162 2012
Developed, Owned, or Operated by EDF Renewables

  • In 2020, EDF Renewables donated $10,000 ($5,000 for its two wind projects in the community) to the county to help programs that were impacted by COVID-19. The county decided to distributed $2,000 each to three school districts and two service centers.

Source

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.