Understanding Community Benefits Plans at the Department of Energy

This report is focused on the Community Benefits Plans (CBP) initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which aims to leverage climate and clean energy funding to promote equitable project development. The CBP process requires developers and grant applicants to assess the impacts of their projects on workers and affected communities, committing to strategies that address these impacts. The report outlines the CBP's alignment with Biden Administration priorities, emphasizing community and labor engagement, job quality, diversity, equity, inclusion, and the Justice40 initiative. Each CBP application must include research and strategic plans addressing these priorities. The report also discusses the historical context of the CBP, highlighting the influence of social and community movements, particularly the organized labor movement, in shaping the initiative. By mandating CBPs for most DOE grant applications, the agency seeks to enhance project viability and ensure that community and worker benefits are maximized, thereby redefining the use of federal funding in the clean energy sector.