DOE Announces First Winners of the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize Partnerships Track

An update from the DOE:

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the first 10 prize winners in the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize Partnerships Track. Each winning team will receive $100,000 to support partnerships between HBCUs and other universities, government agencies, and industry leaders to build new programs and provide professional opportunities that will equip HBCU students with the skills needed to succeed in the clean energy industry.

This new prize is funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities by helping to build a diverse science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pipeline to support America’s clean energy future.

“At DOE, we see time and again that nothing fuels innovation like the power of diversity,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Supporting these winning universities’ work to expand STEM opportunities for minority students is an investment in our nation’s clean energy future that will benefit all Americans.”

The winning teams are:

• Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
• Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida
• Albany State University, Albany, Georgia
• Howard University, Washington, D.C.
• Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia
• Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi
• Southern University at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana
• Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia

The HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize—a part of DOE’s American-Made Challenges—comprises two tracks. The Inspire Track is focused on developing HBCU-hosted clean energy summer or academic break programs for K-12 and community college students, while the Partnerships Track is focused on expanding curriculum and resources for undergraduate and graduate HBCU students.

A total prize pool of $6.75 million will be awarded over the course of the Partnerships track, which spans three phases. Phase 1 winners will be eligible to split a prize pool of $4,000,000 based on the strength of their project progress at the conclusion of Phase 2 this summer. Phase 3 will follow and conclude in January 2025 when up to three winners will split a $1.75 million prize pool in recognition of overall impact.