Working Group 1: Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Overview
As large-scale solar development expands across the country, effective and fair stakeholder engagement is increasingly critical to building strong community relationships and successful projects. Working Group 1 aims to develop a gold standard for community engagement around large-scale solar development. The group is focused on advancing the goals of host communities through the inclusive participation of project stakeholders and seeks to create practical economic opportunities and community benefits through project development.
Key Deliverables
Deliverable #1: Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Benefits-Sharing Resource and Literature Review
This Working Group will develop a comprehensive collection of existing resources and tools addressing community engagement around large-scale solar development, including best practices, toolkits, and case studies showcasing engagement approaches. This review will help identify critical gaps in existing resources and inform future tools and guidance.
Deliverable #2: Community and Stakeholder Engagement and Benefits-Sharing Resource Guide
Working to fill the gaps identified in Deliverable 1, this Working Group will develop and promote a guide for community and stakeholder engagement.
This resource will support developers and practitioners in preparing for engagement efforts, with emphasis on the importance of community context, preliminary research, and relationship-building.
The guide may include:
- A community benefits framework
- A checklist for effective community engagement and benefits sharing
- Best practices
- Tools to evaluate engagement practices.
Project Timeline
All products will be completed by the end of 2026 and made available to the public in early 2027.
Resources
Working Group Co-Chairs
Charles Callaway
Julia McPherson – EDP Renewables
Jill Henck – Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)