The Carbon Action Alliance’s recently launched Civic Toolkit is a tool to support key stakeholders at a local level in having informed conversations about carbon management. The topics covered range from how to educate about carbon management to best practices for communities to engage with project developers. Community benefit plans (CBPs) offer one pathway for communities to articulate needs and access resources such as workforce development or funding for schools from new project developments.

CBPs are plans required by the federal government as part of all funding opportunities offered through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Details about the scope of CBPs, their enforceability, and strategies for negotiation can be found in section four of the Civic Toolkit.

I recently attended a conference hosted by the National Academies titled “Leveraging Community Benefit Frameworks: Empowering Communities to Benefit from Federally Funded Energy Projects.” The conference gathered policy makers from the US Department of Energy, academics, researchers, longtime community advocates, NGO leaders, industry executives, and legal experts to learn about the process of crafting successful CBPs, discuss effective models, and explore the challenges of CBP frameworks.

Over the course of the conference, several themes became apparent through panelist commentary and audience questions.

The importance of sustained public input

Communities are an essential partner in developing new energy projects. When industries receive hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds, it is crucial that impacted communities have a substantive and sustained voice. This can manifest in various ways, such as having a say in the project’s development, receiving economic benefits, workforce development, or participating in decision-making processes. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for developers to redress past social and environmental harms in historically disadvantaged communities.

Building community capacity

Community members have full, busy lives. Participating in yet another engagement process is not easy. There is a massive power, time, and capacity imbalance between communities and project developers. Therefore, it is vital for developers to support community capacity building before CBP negotiations begin.

This can involve providing legal support, funding for community organizers, third-party scientific expertise, and other resources that ensure people are fully equipped and informed when negotiating with project developers. Capacity building ensures that communities are not just passive recipients of benefits but active participants in shaping the projects that impact them.

Section 4 of the Civic Toolkit outlines how lawyers and community organizers are essential to the process of creating binding agreements.

At the same time, developers should meet communities where they are. This requires consistently talking to community members, listening to their concerns, and making necessary changes to the project plans. One town hall meeting in the middle of the day isn’t sufficient—knocking on doors, building proactive relationships with stakeholders, and practicing transparency are key pillars of real partnerships.

Need for federal support and oversight

Many panelists and conference attendees expressed a strong desire for active and transparent federal oversight once projects are approved. Recognizing that communities have limited capacity for this work, there is a valuable role for the federal government to play. Additionally, proactive measures to prevent harm should be standard operating practice. The Department of Energy can support developers in adhering to the agreed-upon community benefit frameworks and consistently deliver the promised benefits.

Engaging communities through innovative tools

One innovative tool developed by the Department of Energy is a game designed to help communities craft their own benefits plans. This fun, easy-to-understand approach educates community members about the complexities of benefit frameworks and makes the planning process more accessible and engaging.

As our Civic Toolkit grows, more interactive, hands-on tools will offer stakeholders an improved knowledge of community benefits frameworks. For a deeper dive into community benefits, connecting with stakeholders, and communicating specifically about carbon management projects, dive into the Civic Toolkit on our website.