Community benefit agreements for solar energy: Examining values, preferences and perceived benefits in the United States using a discrete choice experiment

Large-scale solar energy developments bring significant environmental and community benefits, but they can also impose negative impacts, particularly on host communities. Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) have emerged as a strategy to mitigate these adverse effects. This study examines community preferences regarding CBAs associated with large-scale solar farms. Our investigation focuses on two critical CBAs aspects: the choice between mandated or voluntary implementation and the preference for private or collective benefit distribution. Additionally, we explore how individual values shape community members' attitudes towards solar technology. Our findings reveal a clear preference within the surveyed community for privately distributing benefits over establishing a collective trust fund, and for voluntary implementation rather than government mandates. However, it is essential to recognize that the community is not monolithic and can be placed into three classes: a minority of solar-reluctant individuals (7.5 %), a significant solar-receptive group (24.2 %), and a substantial disengaged majority (68.3 %). Among these groups, the solar-receptive segment displays the most interest in private benefits; yet, they favor government-mandated agreements. Moreover, values play a significant role in shaping preferences within each group, with biospherism correlating with greater support for mandated, private benefits among respondents in the reluctant and receptive groups. Conversely, hedonistic values predict a greater inclination among the reluctant group to live further away from solar developments. Based on these findings, policies should prioritize voluntary, private benefit distribution while remaining adaptable to align with community preferences. Engaging community members in the decision-making can help tailor solutions that resonate with their values and preferences.