On February 3, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Phase One winners of the Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize. This $1.5M prize competition is being offered through the American-Made Challenges and aligns with the goals of the Justice40 Initiative, which directs significant federal climate and energy investment to disadvantaged communities (DACs).

The American-Made program has awarded $30,000 each to 10 coalitions in Phase One to develop strategies to address a local clean energy opportunity or inequity. The awardees are located from Oregon to Oklahoma, to Washington D.C and Puerto Rico, spanning over 15 states and territories. Winning coalitions can apply by May 2023 to win an additional $115,000 in Phase Two. One coalition will win the grand prize of $50,000 in Phase Three, which will close in late November 2023.

Meet the coalitions below! CEBN is looking forward to supporting these teams as a Power Connector through the American-Made Network. Please contact us if you are interested in connecting with teams for investment or partnership opportunities.

Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize Winners

Positive Energy Coalition (Tulsa, OK): The Positive Energy Coalition aims to use solar panel installation to decrease energy burdens for 1,000 North Tulsa homes, while also creating career opportunities and providing job training for North Tulsa residents in the sustainable energy sector.

Change is in the Air: Gresham Coalition (Multnomah County, OR): The Gresham Coalition will work to address key community issues directly tied to the energy transition, increase workforce development, and complete community air quality sensor installation with dashboard functionality.

The HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (Denmark, SC; Orangeburg, SC; and New Orleans, LA): CDAC will deploy place-based initiatives and energy-related solutions, increasing awareness and opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with a new clean energy training program. CDAC will also decrease the community energy burden with community solar projects.

ReBuildATL Coalition (Atlanta, GA): ReBuildATL is empowering Westside Atlanta residents through workforce training, energy-efficient home retrofits, and installation of community solar to reduce energy burdens.

Missoula’s Clean Energy Workforce Coalition (Missoula, MT): A newly formed coalition anchored by Climate Smart Missoula Inc. will work for and with low-income women to create and scale up a workforce development pipeline in clean energy careers, increasing access to family-supporting opportunities.

Revitalize Our Communities Clean Energy Coalition (Atlanta, GA): This newly formed coalition will increase community awareness about solar energy and sustainable agriculture. A solar-powered greenhouse will provide fresh fruit and vegetables in a community that lacks them, and the coalition will also support local youth in becoming certified solar installers in the community.

Green Business Council (Multiple Communities): Dream.org is expanding and scaling up their Green Business Council to deploy community-level projects in clean energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, and workforce development across 10 underrepresented communities in the United States. The 10 communities are located in Fresno, CA; Washington, D.C.; Miami, FL; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Las Vegas, NV; Navajo County, AZ; Lumbee River, NC; Savannah, GA; and Mineral County, NV.

Team Philly (Philadelphia, PA): Team Philly is a coalition anchored by the Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia Inc. that aims to create new—and expand upon existing—services that decrease energy burdens, create green jobs, and work toward an equitable transition to clean energy technologies through designated Neighborhood Energy Centers.

NOLA Clean Energy Collective (New Orleans, LA): The NOLA Clean Energy Collective is a coalition anchored by the Alliance for Affordable Energy. This coalition aims to use art to educate and equip underserved communities in the school system (K–12 and HBCU students) with tools to decrease their carbon footprint. The students will also learn about clean energy technologies and resources and the significance of transitioning to clean energy.

Asociación de Residentes de la Margarita Inc. (Salinas, Puerto Rico): This community-based organization aims to provide at least 40% of their elderly and low-income residents with community solar for a more robust and resilient microgrid.

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Learn more the American-Made Network and current American-Made Challenges.