The American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize is multi-million-dollar prize competition designed to create opportunity for college students, manufacturing coalitions, and community organizations to engage underserved communities to ensure an equitable clean energy transition.
At the end of this challenge, nearly $7.5 million will be awarded to projects that have made immense impact on local communities.
CONCEPT Phase
Clean Energy and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks
The first phase of the Community Energy Innovation Prize’s Clean Energy and Manufacturing Ecosystem is complete, and 23 teams were named winners. Each team was awarded $100,000, and will now receive in-kind mentorship services throughout the PROGRESS Phase of the prize, where they will compete for additional awards. Read the official announcement from the U.S Department of Energy.
Team
Location
Initiative
Community Through Colors
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Installing microgrid and community solar system upgrades and providing operations training to transform the community.
Convivencia Hispana Energy Navigators
St. James, MN
Developing a community energy navigator program to provide free energy audits to residents and increase clean energy capacity.
East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) and Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF)
Minneapolis, MN
Building a solar array on a former superfund site that is member-owned by neighbor residents.
First State Community Green Energy Coalition
Wilmington, DE
Building a Community Clean Energy Hub powered by solar, that provides workforce training and clean energy jobs for a Justice40 community.
Innovate Gloucester
Gloucester, MA
Deploying advanced clean energy technology at the local high school to benefit Justice40 communities.
LEI Foundation Energize Wai’anae Moku
Wai’anae, HI
Growing the Energy Warriors program through a series of workshops and events and identifying priorities to co-design an energy project.
People Power: Energy Security | Ownership
Fort Smith, AR
Bringing the r benefits of clean energy to Fort Smith’s disadvantaged neighborhoods via solar installations on community centers.
Pomona, CA – Direct-to-Renter Clean Energy Program
Pomona, CA
Engaging low-income renters to co-create a direct-to-renter clean energy program that is scalable and transferrable nationwide.
Project: HOMES
Tangier, VA
Serving the remote, climate-vulnerable community of Tangier Island with weatherization services and building a network of trained contractors.
Requity Foundation
Baltimore, MD
Breaking down barriers between vocational education and the clean energy workforce through a variety of projects engaging the local community.
RESCo Innovation Team
Rosebud Sioux Reservation, SD
Coordinating clean energy efforts in transportation, finance, efficiency, and renewable and workforce development for the local community.
Shake Energy Collaborative
Honolulu, HI
Supporting historically disinvested communities in Hawai’i to co-design renewable energy projects and bid for upcoming utility procurements.
Team Bean
New Orleans, LA
Engaging youth in the decision-making process, planning, and funding of energy resilience projects and programming.
Team
Location
Initiative
APLUS
Arlington, TX
Providing hands-on power electronic training to underserved students, while bridging the gap between lab learning and job searching.
CEIP Warren
Warren, OH
Combining manufacturing skills education with energy entrepreneurship, while fostering a vibrant hub of inclusivity and innovation.
Clean Tech Innovation Network
Chicago, IL
Supporting manufacturing-based innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation for women and BIPOC to support grid modernization.
Eighth Generation Consulting
Pawhuska, OK
Supporting a solar recycling startup and empowering Indigenous communities through training, while blending traditional wisdom with economic growth objectives.
IMPACTT
Evansville, IN
Supporting economic development through entrepreneurial education, fostering manufacturing talent pipelines, and community engagement.
Green Leap Riverside
Riverside County, CA
Empowering manufacturers to reduce energy use and foster collaboration for a clean and sustainable future in Riverside County.
Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2)
Four Counties in KY
Revitalizing Kentucky metals manufacturing by implementing clean energy conversion, statewide recycling, and innovative workforce solutions in former coal communities.
PDX Clean Industry Network
Portland, OR
Supporting sustainable solutions to jumpstart an industrial symbiosis ecosystem in Portland’s Columbia Corridor.
Scale for ClimateTech
New York State
Bringing the Climate Equity Module to centers in NY state and fostering a shared vision of equitable innovation.
Southland Development Authority Team
Tinley Park, IL
Creating an engineering internship program, a cutting-edge manufacturing facility, and clean energy industry partnerships.
Collegiate Track
The first phase of the Community Energy Innovation Prize’s Collegiate Track is also complete, and five teams were named winners. The universities associated with each team was awarded $15,000 each, and teams won receive in-kind mentorship services throughout the PROGRESS Phase of the prize. Read the official Collegiate Track winner announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Team
Location
Initiative
American Institute of Chemical Engineering and Lamar University
Beaumont, TX
Researching the capabilities of converting landfill gas to renewable natural gas, and implementing findings into university and underserved community-based curricula.
Greener CASA
Tyler, TX
Creating an academia-community partnership to bring free energy audits to underserved communities to promote energy efficiency.
GreenSynergy
Houston, TX
Integrating clean energy into education, utilizing solar panels, fuel cells, and other technologies to foster learning and sustainability.
Rural Stormwater Recovery Innovators
Cedar City, UT
Using smart stormwater mitigation strategies to protect community assets and produce and support cleaner water and clean energy.
Solar Decathlon at Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA
Designing and building sustainable net-zero homes to address energy challenges, develop a green workforce, and train the next generation of sustainable professionals in Westside Atlanta.
PROGRESS Phase
Collegiate Track
The second phase of the Community Energy Innovation Prize’s Collegiate Track is complete. Teams that won the PROGRESS Phase were awarded $20,000 each to continue executing their Impact Plans through the third and final phase of the competition.
Team
Location
Community Partner(s)
Initiative
Greener CASA
Tyler, TX
Monarca Initiative
Creating an academia-community partnership to bring free energy audits to underserved communities and promote energy efficiency.
GreenSynergy
Houston, TX
Houston Community College
Integrating clean energy into education — utilizing solar panels, fuel cells, and other technologies to foster learning and inspire the future clean energy workforce.
Solar Decathlon at Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA
Lifecycle Building Center of Greater Atlanta, Westside Future Fund, Atlanta Housing, ATL, USGBC
Designing and building a net-zero home to address energy challenges, develop a green workforce, and train the next generation of sustainable professionals in Westside Atlanta.