DOE Announces Prize Winners in the First-Ever HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize
October 05, 2023 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the first 10 prize winners in the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize Inspire Track. Each winning team will receive $40,000 to develop or enhance clean energy-focused summer programs for K-12 and community college students. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, aiming to direct 40% of certain federal investments’ benefits to disadvantaged communities by fostering a diverse STEM pipeline to support America’s clean energy future. Terrence Mosley, senior advisor for Diversity and STEM in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, emphasized the commitment of the winning HBCUs to inspire students to pursue careers in clean energy fields. The winning teams include institutions like Albany State University, Florida A&M University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. The HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize, a component of DOE’s American-Made Challenges, consists of two tracks: the Inspire Track and the Partnerships Track. The Partnerships Track encourages HBCUs to establish collaborations with other universities, organizations, and industry leaders to expand clean energy curriculum and resources for students. Phase 1 winners of the Partnerships Track will be awarded up to $100,000 each, with submissions due by December 19, 2023. Phase 2 will commence in February 2024, followed by Phase 3, which will culminate in the announcement of the final winners sharing a prize pool of $1.75 million in January 2025. The Partnerships Track aims to enhance clean energy programming and professional opportunities for HBCU students to prepare them for successful careers in clean energy.