Proceedings of a Workshop
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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Leveraging Community Benefit Frameworks: Empowering Communities to Benefit from Federally Funded Energy Projects: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27996.
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PLANNING COMMITTEE ON EMPOWERING JUSTICE 40 COMMUNITIES: A WORKSHOP ON LEVERAGING COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S MANDATE TO SERVE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
DEVASHREE SAHA, World Resources Institute, Chair
MARCEL AKHAME, Breakthrough Energy
LOUISE BEDSWORTH, University of California, Berkeley
MARGARET COOK, Houston Advanced Research Center
DANIEL ROSSI-KEEN, RiverWise
NATASHA UDU-GAMA, American Geophysical Union Thriving Earth Exchange
VANGELA M. WADE, Mississippi Center for Justice
Staff
KASIA KORNECKI, Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES), Study Director
MICAH LOWENTHAL, Director, Office of Special Projects, Policy and Global Affairs
ELIZABETH ZEITLER, Associate Board Director, BEES
JASMINE VICTORIA BRYANT, Research Assistant, BEES
APARAJITA DATTA, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow
BOARD ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
SUSAN F. TIERNEY, Analysis Group, Chair
NOËL BAKHTIAN, Bezos Earth Fund
LOUISE BEDSWORTH, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
PAULA GLOVER, Alliance to Save Energy
DENISE GRAY (NAE), LG Energy Solution Michigan
COLETTE D. HONORABLE, Exelon Corporation
JOHN G. KASSAKIAN (NAE), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
DEBRA LEW, Energy Systems Integration Group
CARLOS MARTÍN, Harvard University
JOSE G. SANTIESTEBAN (NAE), ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (retired)
LOUIS SCHICK, Clean Energy Ventures
GORDON VAN WELIE (NAE), ISO New England
DAVID G. VICTOR, University of California, San Diego
Staff
K. JOHN HOLMES, Senior Director and Scholar
ELIZABETH ZEITLER, Associate Board Director
BRENT HEARD, Senior Program Officer
KASIA KORNECKI, Senior Program Officer
CATHERINE WISE, Program Officer
REBECCA DEBOER, Research Associate
JASMINE VICTORIA BRYANT, Research Assistant
KAIA RUSSELL, Senior Program Assistant
HEATHER LOZOWSKI, Financial Manager
APARAJITA DATTA, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow
OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS POLICY AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
KAREN C. SETO (NAS), Yale University, Chair
HUDA AKIL, University of Michigan
ARTURO CASADEVALL, Johns Hopkins University
MARGARET A. HAMBURG (NAE), U.S. Food and Drug Administration
PATRICIA KUHL, University of Washington
RITA LANE, Apple Inc. (retired)
JUDITH A. MILLER, Independent Consultant
CATHERINE A. NOVELLI, Listening for America
SUSAN S. SILBEY, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
THOMAS C. SKALAK, Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation
Ex Officio Members
NADINE N. AUBRYB (NAE), Northeastern University
GILDA A. BARABINO, Olin College of Engineering
BONNIE C. CARROLL, Information International Associates
MARK C. CESA, INEOS Nitriles (retired)
MARTIN CHALFIE, Columbia University
CARLOS DEL RIO (NAM), Emory University
JOHN G. HILDEBRAND (NAS), University of Arizona
ADAM B. JAFFE, Brandeis University
RAYMOND JEANLOZ, University of California, Berkeley
ALAN I. LESHNER, American Association for the Advancement of Science
MARTHA L. MINOW, Harvard University
CHERRY A. MURRAY (NAS/NAE), Harvard University
Staff
VAUGHAN C. TUREKIAN, Executive Director
JOHN BORIGHT, Deputy Executive Director
KAREN AUTRY, Manager, Program Operations
LISA ALSTON, Senior Administrative Officer
EDUARDO CUSICANQUI, Senior Deputy Director, Policy and Global Affairs Program Finance
MARILYN BAKER, Director, Reports and Communications
AMY SHIFFLETTE, Senior Editor
ERIK SAARI, Report Review Associate
Reviewers
This Proceedings of a Workshop was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published proceedings as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this proceedings:
Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the content of the proceedings nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this proceedings was overseen by DOROTHY ROBYN, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. She was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this proceedings was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the rapporteur and the National Academies.
Contents
1 LEVERAGING COMMUNITY BENEFIT FRAMEWORKS WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
2 PERSPECTIVES, PART 1: COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROCESS
Community Voices and Experience
3 SPOTLIGHT: MONTANA’S BLACK BUTTE COPPER PROJECT
Delivering Community Benefits in Rural America
4 FRAMEWORKS FOR DELIVERING COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Bringing Benefits to Communities
5 LESSONS LEARNED FROM DECADES OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS NEGOTIATION
Including Underrepresented Communities
Using Nondisclosure Agreements
6 PERSPECTIVES, PART 2: CHALLENGES AND ENABLERS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS
Community Benefits in Rural Communities
Empowering Community Organizations
7 DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVES: EXPERIENCES WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN PROCESS
