As climate infrastructure expands, community benefits have become central to project success, yet approaches remain fragmented. This review looks at 40 US projects to analyze how developers define and deliver benefits and pathways to more equitable outcomes.

Key takeaways:

• Community benefits are foundational to successful project development, not optional add-ons

• Developers now integrate multiple benefit types (fiscal, workforce, infrastructure, environmental, and procedural), but a lack of standardization can lead to uneven and inequitable outcomes

• Shared language for defining and monitoring benefits can help align climate and clean energy projects with climate goals and the needs of disinvested and frontline communities