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.

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 (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 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: 

1. 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.
2. 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

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.

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