The projects that build the clean energy economy will create new infrastructure that holds the potential to drive new regional economic development, technological innovation, and high-wage employment for communities across the United States as we work to make progress on the nation’s climate goals. At the same time, it is critical to understand and address the societal considerations and impacts of these projects at local, regional, and global levels.
Projects funded by the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management will develop the following plans to address societal considerations and impacts, ensuring projects center on engagement and are sustainable and equitable:
- Community, Tribal, and Stakeholder Engagement
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
- Justice40
- Quality Jobs
Learn more about each of these project plan areas below.
Community, Tribal, and Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement plans explain how the applicant intends to engage throughout the life of the project with community-based organizations that represent local residents and businesses, labor unions and worker organizations, local government, disadvantaged communities, and Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations. These plans can include methods of engagement, plans for community access to data on project impacts, plans for negotiating Community Benefits Agreements, and more.
Read the guidance for project teams: Creating a Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) plans present the steps applicants will take to develop projects that foster a welcoming and inclusive environment; support people from groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and/or applicable workforces; advance equity; and encourage the inclusion of individuals from these groups in future phases of the project.
Read the guidance for project teams: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Plans
Justice40 Initiative
Justice40 Initiative plans explain the actions applicants will take to ensure that projects maximize benefits and reduce and mitigate negative impacts, with special attention to disadvantaged communities. Justice40 plans have two parts:
- The Energy and Environmental Justice Assessment, which details project impacts and whom they flow to, including the cumulative burden and whether the benefits or harms flow to disadvantaged communities.
- The Justice40 Implementation Strategy, which details specific actions to maximize benefits and minimize disbenefits or harms.
Read the guidance for project teams: Creating a Justice40 Initiative Plan
Quality Jobs
All projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are asked to address the creation of quality jobs. Applicants are asked to describe their plans to attract, train, and retain a skilled and well-qualified workforce.
Guidance across DOE programs is forthcoming.
Additional Resources for Project Teams
General Information on Plans
Fact Sheet: Community Benefit Plans At a Glance
Fact Sheet: Societal Considerations and Impacts – Project Selection
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
BEST PRACTICES: Public Outreach and Engagement for Geologic Storage Projects
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) Toolkit
U.S. Department of Energy
Engagement Resources
U.S. Department of the Interior
Fact Sheet: FECM Domestic Engagement Framework
U.S. Department of Energy
Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Domestic Engagement Framework: Engaging Communities, Stakeholders, and Tribes in Clean Energy Technologies
U.S. Department of Energy
Guidelines for Community Engagement in Carbon Dioxide Capture, Transport, and Storage Projects
World Resources Institute
"Relationships First and Always: A Guide to Collaborations with Indigenous Communities"
The University of Arizona Native Nations Institute
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Diversity and Inclusion
National Laboratory Directors’ Council
DOE's Office of Minority Programs Energy Workforce Division
U.S. Department of Energy
Guide to Minority Serving Institutions
Diversity Toolkit
Summary of DOE Office of Science Recognized Promising Practices for DOE National Laboratory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts
U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environmental Justice
"Advancing Environmental Justice"
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (beta): Explore the map
White House Council on Environmental Quality
Energy Justice Dashboard (BETA)
U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Justice Workbook
Initiative for Energy Justice
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tools to Support Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency