By Andrew Skerritt
Florida A&M University (FAMU) is among first prize winners in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize. FAMU scored first prize wins in the Partnerships Track as well as the Inspire Track.
Under the Partnerships Track, FAMU and each of the other nine winning teams 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 Joe 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 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.
In Phase 1 of the Inspire Track, FAMU and nine other HBCUs were awarded $40,000 for their impressive work designing clean energy-focused academic break programs for K-12 and community college 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 million 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.
The Inspire Track supports the development and expansion of HBCU-hosted clean energy summer or academic break programs for K-12 and community college students. These programs may last 1-6 weeks and will focus on student education and access to clean energy technologies, solutions, policies, research, and more. Example topics include renewable power, sustainable transportation, and energy efficiency. These programs will help illuminate possible clean energy educational and career pathways for students. The track includes two phases over which competitors will submit plans for the development of these programs and provide follow-up metrics.