Congratulations to the 28 winners from Phase 1: Embark of the SOLVE IT Prize! Each winner received $80,000 for describing their experience in community engagement and identifying a community seeking clean energy solutions and high-level plan to engage that community.

 

These winners now advance to Phase 2: Engage to work closely with community stakeholders to develop the community’s vision for a clean energy or decarbonization project.

 

Congratulations to the winning teams!

  • Aloha First (Waimanalo, HI) – Implementing sustainable solutions for energy justice on behalf of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) who have long been underserved.
  • Asociación de Residentes de La Margarita (Salinas, Puerto Rico) – Exploring an energy efficiency and resilience project using air conditioner water heater systems for La Margarita, Puerto Rico.
  • Bryant Decarbonization  (Ann Arbor, MI) – Creating a regional geothermal district by centering the goals, aspirations, and strengths of a Justice40 neighborhood.
  • City of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD) ­– Identifying innovative ways to expand EV charging in Baltimore City, creating and actionable strategy by engaging with community members. 
  • City of New Bedford, MA Resilience Hubs (New Bedford, MA) ­– Coordinating resource centers that build a community's capacity to thrive before, during, and following extreme events.
  • Clean Energy NH Energy Circuit Rider (Hampton, NH) – Implementing energy solutions for local libraries as hands-on learning opportunities for citizens to achieve their own energy saving solutions.
  • Clearfork Community Solar and Energy Efficiency (Clairfield, TN) – Convening community stakeholders to pair community solar with household energy efficiency programs to tackle energy poverty in Appalachia.
  • Comunidades del Sol (Carrizo Springs, TX) – Aiming to reduce the energy burdens of residents in Comunidades del Sol, TX.
  • Cooperative Energy Futures (Minneapolis, MN) – Developing district level ground-source heating systems centered around anchor sites, reaching surrounding homes and businesses.
  • Detroit MorningSide EcoDistrict (Detroit, MI) – Making efficient upgrades to the community hub to demonstrate technologies, anchor community education, and quickly scale adoption.
  • DU BleuGreen Krewe (Orleans Parish, LA) ­– Increasing awareness and investment around clean energy solutions in local communities surrounding Dillard University.
  • Duquesne Light Company (Sharpsburg, PA) – Helping Sharpsburg, PA achieve their goal of an independent, clean energy future through community-led solutions.
  • East Oakland Neighborhood Initiative Collaborative (Oakland, CA) – Exploring technology-agnostic energy networks as tools for realizing accessible energy infrastructure in East Oakland.
  • Energizing Southeast Alaska (Thorne Bay, AK) ­– Working with a remote Alaskan community to rethink the use of forest products as a sustainable solution to meet energy challenges.
  • Groundwork Elizabeth & Partners (Elizabeth, NJ) – Partnering with public housing, a state university, and a non-profit to explore clean energy options for seniors in public housing in Elizabeth, NJ.
  • Hui Ulu Mea ʻAi for the Cultivation of Community Self-Reliance (Waiāhole, HI) – Exploring micro-hydropower in Waiāhole Valley on the island of Oʻahu to enable resilience in their rural community.
  • Just Transition Rural Innovators (Delta County, CO) - Linking decarbonization, industrial efficiencies and carbon management at an old coalmine with community energy for jobs and climate harm reduction.
  • Lowlanders for Energy Justice (Port Sulphur, LA) – Creating a sustainable, green energy solution for a disadvantaged, indigenous costal community to maintain their lifeways.
  • Michigan Tech Beaver Island Energy Resiliency Initiative (Charlevoix County, MI) ­– Supporting community priorities for a more sustainable and resilient future for the remote, rural island community.
  • Mojave Microgrid Hub (Gardnerville, NV) – Using stakeholder engagement and inclusive planning to foster economic growth, sustainability, and clean energy innovation.
  • Power-Up Jackson (Jackson, MS) ­­– Revitalizing West Jackson, MS with energy-efficient homes and solar panels to boost sustainability and empower residents.
  • Puerto Rico Hydro Microgrid Partners (Utuado Municipio, Puerto Rico) – Improving community resilience with small hydroelectric powered microgrids for low-resourced, rural communities in Puerto Rico.
  • Salish and Kootenai Community Energy Alliance (Ronan, MT) – Conducting communitybased participatory research, outreach, and education while honoring cultural traditions.
  • San Diego State University and Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Collaboration (Riverside County, CA) ­­– Expanding collaboration to address frequent power outages and distribution challenges in a very hot region with tribal communities. 
  • Siskiyou County Job Council (Yreka, CA) ­– Uplifting Siskiyou County's rural cities and unincorporated communities through renewable energy readiness and projects.
  • Town of Pennington Gap (Pennington Gap, VA) – Educating, supporting, and advocating for renewable energy implementation in southwest Virginia.
  • Tri-Town Rural Community-Driven Energy Planning Team (Otisfield, ME) ­– Planning for regional community-driven energy projects in three rural towns with high energy burdens & reliability issues.
  • White Frog Sustainable Solutions LLC (Lame Deer, MT) – Applying a Dynamic Assessment & Adaptive Education Model to guide community engagement, building efficiency planning, and implementation.

Read the full announcement on enery.gov.