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
Diamond Vista Kansas Marion County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 95 299 2018
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Enel Green Power

  • During the wind project's construction, Enel Green Power supported construction of a new library and an educational space that provides renewable energy education.

  • Enel has partnered with Cloud County Community College Wind Tech program to provide students with scholarships in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs

  • Enel has partnered with the local non-profit grocery store, Tampa Trails Stop, on local food programs.

  • Enel has worked with the Tampa School District to improve their math, science, engineering and technical skills courses.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Deuel Harvest North South Dakota Deuel County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 109 301 2021
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Invenergy / Southern Power

  • Beginning in 2021, the Invenergy Deuel School Scholarship provides at least $30,000 annually in scholarships to graduating seniors from Deuel High School. Invenergy created the scholarship with participating landowners Jim Dailey and Greg Toben; in 2023 and 2024 respectively, $48,000 and $50,000 in scholarships were distributed due to the landowners' contributions on top of Invenergy's annual $30,000 contribution.

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

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Bull Hill Maine Hancock County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 19 34 2012
Developed, Owned, or Operated by First Wind / Terraform Power

  • Bull Hill Wind makes an annual community benefits payment of $200,000 to Hancock County and an annual payment of $20,000 to the town of Eastbrook.

  • Bull Hill made a one-time contribution of $25,000 to Downeast Salmon Fed to improve the salmon habitat in the Narraguagas River and makes an annual payment of $20,000 to the same organization for improving public access to waterways and water quality.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Crocker South Dakota Clark County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 77 200 2019
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Geronimo Energy

  • Geronimo Energy established a $800,000 Community Fund for its Crocker Wind Farm. The Crocker Community Fund receives an estimated $40,000 per year for a period of 20 years. The fund board was elected and is composed of local landowners in the project footprint, as well as Clark County residents. The Fund donations will be funded by Geronimo and dispersed by the newly elected board to support charitable causes within and near Crocker.

  • In 2022/23, Geronimo Energy made several donations to community organizations, including the Bradley fire department, the Clark County ambulance department (for a new GPS tracking system), and adopting a local highway.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Blue Creek Ohio Van Wert County, Paulding County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 152 304 2012
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Iberdrola

  • With a donation of $30,000 from Iberdrola, the Van Wert County Foundation established the Iberdrola Renewables Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are designed to support local students who choose to study renewable energy and attend a school within the University System of Ohio. Residents of every Ohio township where Iberdrola Renewables is currently building wind farms are eligible.

  • Blue Creek Wind Farm partners with Vantage Career Center to help prepare students for jobs in the wind industry. Support from Iberdrola has included a $150,000 donation in 2011 to help support the center's expansion into renewable energy education and training, creation of a veterans scholarship program, and partnering on curriculum development.

  • Iberdrola has sponsored community organizations and events, including: Flat Rock Creek Festival, Friends of the Paulding Chamber, Paulding County Youth Baseball, Van Wert County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau’s Rib Fest, Van Wert Elementary School book fair, Van Wert County Junior Fair, Van Wert Peony Pageant, Van Wert 911 Operations, Van Wert Junior Achievement, and Village of Convoy Fire Department. In 2011, Iberdrola donated $10,000 to the Van Wert County Historical Society and $5,000 to the John Paulding Historical Society.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Apple Blossom Michigan Huron County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 29 100 2017
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Geronimo Energy / Huron Wind / Sempra Renewables / AEP

  • The Apple Blossom Community Fund was established to engage in and support charitable activities in the communities connected to the wind project. The fund receives up to $20,000 annually and decision-making for the fund is made by a board of directors made up of landowners hosting turbines and community members in the impacted area.

  • Sempra Renewables makes an annual gift to the Pigeon Community Fund of the Huron County Community Foundation, including a $15,000 gift in 2019 that was put toward community projects (e.g., upgrades to an events center, public ice rink) in the Village of Pigeon.

  • The American Electric Power Foundation, on behalf of AEP Renewables, donated $10,000 in emergency funds to the Huron County Community Foundation to assist with COVID-19 response.

  • In 2019, Sempra Renewables donated $2,000 and equipment to the Laker Secondary School to assist with creation of an innovation center.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Aurora North Dakota Williams County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 71 299 2021
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Tradewind Energy / Enel Green Power

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Enel donated $58,000 to first responders: the Tioga Medical Center, Ray Volunteer Fire District, Tioga Volunteer Fire District and Wildrose Volunteer Fire District. Funds were used for training, necessary equipment, and COVID-19 emergency response needs.

  • As part of a multi-year commitment, Enel has sponsored the annual Drone Camp for Kids in Tioga to engage local students in STEM education.

  • Enel established a scholarship at Lake Region State College for students seeking an Associate in Applied Science in Wind Energy Technology or completing the wind turbine technician program, with preference given to students from Williams County and/or graduates of Tioga High School.

  • Enel contributed to a $1 million industry-supported technical skills grant, which is matched with funding from the state of North Dakota. Enel’s contribution supports unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training and re-skilling for adult learners in the oil and gas community.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Bingham Wind Maine Somerset County, Piscataquis County Formal agreement Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 56 185 2016
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Novatus Energy / Onward Energy / First Wind / TerraForm Power

  • The project provides community benefits packages to the towns of Bingham, Abbot, Parkman, Moscow, and Kingsbury Plantation; these total $343,000 in annual payments across the five towns.

  • The project provides $30,000 annually to the Somerset Economic Development Corporation, $10,000 annually to the Moose Alley Riders for trail maintenance, $10,000 annually to the New England Mountain Bike Association for trail repair and stormwater management, and $10,000 annually to the Valley Riders for trail and bridge maintenance.

'- First Wind provided scholarships for students in the locations of its projects while the company was still operating.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

Black Oak Getty Minnesota Steams County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 39 82 2016
Developed, Owned, or Operated by Geronimo Energy / Sempra Renewables / AEP

  • The Black Oak Getty Community Fund is the result of a commitment originally made by Geronimo Energy and honored by Sempra Renewables to use a portion of the wind farm’s profits to give back directly to the area communities. The Community Fund's mission is to improve the quality of life of all citizens in the area of Black Oak Getty wind farm through charitable grants; preference is given to "innovative programs in the areas of education, environment, and community development that encourage volunteerism, community development, and/or promote environmental awareness and improvement." The Community Fund receives up to $16,000 annually, and spending of the Community Fund is at the direction of the Community Fund’s board of directors, which is made up of landowners hosting wind turbines and one at-large director from the community.

  • In April 2020, AEP donated $10,000 to the Sauk Centre Area Community Foundation in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Verified by WINDExchange on Aug. 1, 2024

East Fork Kansas Thomas County Fund Donation/support to local cause Land-based wind energy project 72 195.8 2020
Developed, Owned, or Operated by ENGIE

  • East Fork has established a scholarship fund with Colby Community College.

  • East Fork has formed donation agreements with schools in the project area.

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.