What Every Other Community Got
Boron Got: $0
We analyzed 18 clean energy projects across the United States. Nearly every single project negotiated community benefits. Except Boron.
The Health Cost: Thousands Trees Removed
Windbreak helping prevent dust from flowing into Boron
Health Risk: Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
Residents are concerned about dust from the solar construction site flowing into Boron, potentially increasing Valley Fever risk - a serious fungal lung infection endemic to California desert regions.
✗ No health impact mitigation funds provided to Boron
✗ No funds for air quality monitoring or healthcare programs
Community Benefits: The Visual Truth
Every bar represents real money going to real communities. Except Boron.
Vineyard Wind 1 - Barnstable
Barnstable • 800 MW • Offshore Wind
Host Community Agreement$16M guaranteed minimum + $1.534M/year (property taxes + host payments) over 25+ years.
Vineyard Wind 1 - Nantucket
Nantucket • 800 MW • Offshore Wind
Good Neighbor Agreement$16M Nantucket Offshore Wind Community Fund for climate, coastal resiliency, cultural preservation.
Cassadaga Wind
Chautauqua County • 126 MW • Wind
Host Community AgreementAnnual financial contributions + infrastructure/road maintenance + emergency response planning.
New York Policy Minimum (for 350 MW)
Policy Benchmark • 350 MW (Aratina size) • Solar
State-Mandated Minimum (annual)NY requires $3,800/MW/year minimum. For 350 MW: $1.33M/year = $33.25M over 25 years.
CADEMO Offshore Wind
Santa Barbara County • 60 MW • Offshore Wind
Formal Community Benefits AgreementCBA with Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians: tribal consultation, apprenticeships, oceanographic research institute.
Ocotillo Wind
Imperial County • 112 turbines • Wind
Community FundCommunity fund established for local projects and infrastructure.
Bronco Plains Wind
Kit Carson County • 108 turbines • Wind
Donations to local causesCommunity donations and support for local programs.
Michigan Policy Minimum (for 350 MW)
Policy Benchmark • 350 MW (Aratina size) • Solar
State-Mandated MinimumMichigan law requires $2,000/MW minimum. For 350 MW project: $700,000 MINIMUM required.
Chevelon Butte Wind I & II
Coconino & Navajo Counties • 106 turbines • Wind
Donations to local causesCommunity donations and local support programs.
Hatchet Ridge Wind
Shasta County • 44 turbines • Wind
Community FundEstablished community fund for local initiatives and programs.
Rosamond Central Solar
Kern County • 192 MW • Solar
Tax revenue + community programsPowers 71,000 homes. Community benefits through tax revenue and local programs.
Tule Wind Project
San Diego County • 57 turbines • Wind
Donations to local causesCommunity donations and local support programs.
Perrin Ranch Wind
Coconino County • 62 turbines • Wind
Donations to local causesCommunity donations and local initiatives.
Riverside County CA Policy (for 350 MW)
Riverside County (Policy) • 350 MW on ~2,000 acres • Solar
County Policy MinimumPolicy B-29: $150/acre for large solar. Estimated 2,000 acres = $300,000 minimum.
Rising Tree Wind
Kern County (SAME COUNTY AS BORON) • 60 turbines • Wind
Donations to local causesCommunity donations and support programs. SAME COUNTY as Boron but negotiated benefits.
Banner Peak Wind
Nome Census Area • 18 turbines • Wind
Other community benefitsCommunity benefit programs for remote Alaska community.
Hydrostor Willow Rock
Kern County (Rosamond) • 500 MW / 4,000 MWh • Energy Storage
CBA Required by Kern County(Total)Project: $1.76 billionFranchise agreement required by Kern County Board of Supervisors as condition of approval. Specific community benefit amounts not publicly disclosed. Project received final CEC approval December 2025.
Aratina Solar Center
Kern County (Boron/Desert Lake) • 350 MW solar + 238 MW storage • Hybrid
NONE - No CBA Required(Total)Project: Under construction, anticipated operations 2026Approximately 2,300 acres of private land near Boron and Desert Lake. Tax revenue goes to County General Fund, NOT directly to Boron. Thousands of Joshua trees affected. No infrastructure funding. No community agreement required by Kern County.
Geographic Pattern: Everyone Negotiates Benefits
Boron (Kern County): $0
What Boron SHOULD Have Received
Based on policies in other states, here's what a 350 MW project like Aratina should provide to its host community:
Michigan Policy Minimum (for 350 MW)
Michigan law requires $2,000/MW minimum. For 350 MW project: $700,000 MINIMUM required.
New York Policy Minimum (for 350 MW)
NY requires $3,800/MW/year minimum. For 350 MW: $1.33M/year = $33.25M over 25 years.
Riverside County CA Policy (for 350 MW)
Policy B-29: $150/acre for large solar. Estimated 2,000 acres = $300,000 minimum.
Boron's Reality
No Community Benefits Agreement. No Infrastructure Funding. No Community Fund.
While $30 million in tax revenue goes to Kern County's General Fund, Boron—the community directly impacted—receives nothing guaranteed.
This Is Not Acceptable
Every other community across America negotiated fair compensation for hosting clean energy infrastructure. Boron deserves the same. The county supervisors who approved this project without a Community Benefits Agreement failed to protect our community's interests.
All 'Owner community' figures shown here are modeled proposals based on current state and federal programs, not executed or guaranteed commitments.
Data Sources
Explore the Full Dataset
View CA FWD Energy Project Benefits Repository →Comprehensive database of community benefits agreements across California
291 wind projects
328 energy projects
Community benefits research