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TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize

Prize pool of up to $4.1M to Tribal Colleges and Universities for creating projects at the intersection of clean energy and food sovereignty

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Education Energy, Environment & Resources
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prize:
$4,100,000

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Education Energy, Environment & Resources
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Summary
Overview The Three Phases Start Forming Your Team Now! Guidelines

Overview

The Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize encourages Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to develop student-led demonstration projects that increase their knowledge on clean energy and food sovereignty on TCU campuses. Projects may include but are not limited to:  

  • Greenhouses heated or cooled by geothermal (ground-source) energy 
  • Greenhouses powered by wind or solar
  • Solar arrays that provide shade for crops to grow or livestock to graze. 

TCUs are encouraged to incorporate local traditional crops and/or livestock into their designs, as well as relevant clean energy systems to ensure food is sustainably grown for their environments. Students’ valuable exposure and hands-on experience in energy and food sovereignty can then be shared to benefit Tribes. 

 

A Program Structured for Engagement  

This prize is intended to build the capacity of TCU students to use clean energy to grow food self-sufficiently with sources on Tribal lands. One student team from each of the 35 TCUs is eligible to apply and will be recognized for their work.  

 

The first phase of the prize will award up to 30 winners from the 35 eligible TCUs. Each winning Phase 1 team will receive a $40,000 cash award and is encouraged to leverage part of Phase 1 funding to offset travel costs to an in-person event hosted by the Office of Indian Energy in November 2025. All applicants are expected to have at least three student team members and one faculty member attend the event.

 

More Than $4 Million in Incentives  

The Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize consists of three phases in which student teams will assemble, plan, construct, and showcase their projects to earn funding that will go directly to their TCU. In addition to the cash prizes outlined below, teams will have access to Power Connectors—organizations that can provide complimentary support and guidance throughout the prize—as teams plan and construct their projects. 

 

The Three Phases

 

 

Phase 1: Teaming  

Up to 30 winners | $40,000 cash prize to each winning TCU: includes funds for expected travel to the 2025 Indian Energy Program Review in Denver  

Build a team and summarize your project.   

 

Phase 2A: Planning and Permitting 

Up to 20 winners | $75,000 cash prize to each winning TCU 

Create a detailed project plan.  

 

Phase 2B: Construction 

Up to 20 winners | $60,000 cash prize to each winning TCU 

Construct your project. 

 

Phase 3: Presentations and Awards 

First place: $75,000 | Second place: $50,000 | Third place: $35,000 | Up to 4 Honorable Mention prizes: $10,000 each 

Attend and speak at the 2025 Indian Energy Program Review.  

Start Forming Your Team Now!

Follow this prize by clicking the “Follow” button at the top right of this page to receive updates and start forming your team today.  

Guidelines

Stay tuned for the official prize launch and publication of Phase 1 rules in fall 2024.  

To receive updates on the Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize, please follow the HeroX channel. If you have any questions, please follow the HeroX channel or message us directly at . 

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Timeline
Updates12

Challenge Updates

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHASE 1 WINNERS!

Jan. 9, 2025, 1:12 p.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

Fourteen teams have been named winners in the Tribal College and University (TCU) Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize and will move to Phase 2 of the prize! 

The Phase 1 winners were selected for their accomplishments in forming teams and developing project plans that use renewable energy to bring food sovereignty to their TCUs.   

The winners and their project submissions include the following (listed alphabetically):  

 

Tribal College and UniversitySubmission NameLocation
Blackfeet Community CollegeSAPOO Land EnergyBrowning, MT 
Cankdeska Cikana Community CollegeEverGreen: All Seasons Sustainable AgricultureFort Totten, ND
College of Muscogee NationEkvnv Hoporenkv: Clean Energy for Food SovereigntyOkmulgee, OK 
Diné CollegeK'é (Kinship) in AgricultureTsaile, AZ 
Iḷisaġvik CollegeGrowing Sovereignty: An Arctic Sun & Solar ProjectUtqiagvik, AK 
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeKBOCC Food Sovereignty & Sustainability GroupL'Anse, MI 
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityWaasamoowinikeng ‘Making Electricity’Hayward, WI
Navajo Technical UniversityFood Sovereignty & Energy Nexus on Navajo LandCrownepoint, NM
Northwest Indian CollegeIntegrating Indigenous Science with AgrivoltaicsLummi, WA
Oglala Lakota CollegeLakota Sustainability InitiativeKyle, SD
San Carlos Apache CollegeAgriculture and EnergySan Carlos, AZ
Sinte Gleska University White Feather Tail Woman Garden & Solar GreenhouseMission, SD
Stone Child CollegeSCC Sustainability in Institution and CommunityBox Elder, MT
White Earth Tribal & Community CollegeWETCC NEXUS VAWT PROJECTMahnomen, MN

  

Congratulations to all participants for their great work forming teams and developing detailed demonstration plans! 

 

 

 

What’s Next 

Phase 1 winners will move to Phase 2, which is broken into two parts to receive funds prior to the completion of Phase 2:  

Phase 2a | Planning and Permitting: Competitors will complete necessary prework and permitting (such as a NEPA permit). Up to 14 teams will win a cash prize of $75,000 for their TCU and move to Phase 2b. 

Phase 2b | Construction and Demonstration Planning: Teams will construct projects. Up to 14 teams will win a cash prize of $60,000 for their TCU.  

 

 

We can’t wait to see what the Phase 1 winners do next! 

Submission Deadline Extended to Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET Sharp

Dec. 12, 2024, 9:55 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

Good news! The TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize will reopen for submissions from Friday, Dec. 13 at roughly 5 p.m. to Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET sharp. Tip: remember to convert 5 p.m. ET into your time zone (i.e., 2 p.m. PT). 

The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues, upload delays, or challenges navigating HeroX, the official prize platform. Competitors must press the Submit button prior to the 5 p.m. ET deadline on Dec. 20, so get your application ready today!  

If you’re not already in touch with Jade Garrett, email her at jade@positivedeviancy.com to set up time to talk. You'll receive mentorship on the prize—free of charge! Chat with Jade to brainstorm ideas for your project, receive support about what to include in your submission, get help submitting your application, and more! 

Remember to read the official rules to understand what to include in your application.  

We’re happy to allow more time to participate and can’t wait to receive your submission!  

Submission Deadline Extended to Friday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. ET

Dec. 5, 2024, 9:43 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

The TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize deadline is extended to this Friday, Dec. 6 (tomorrow) at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. Don’t miss this opportunity to win a cash prize of $40,000 for your TCU! 

If you’d like to start a new submission or revise an existing submission, now is your chance! 

The prize administrators are happy to support you in submitting your application. Please reach out to TCUprize@nrel.gov immediately with questions or to set up a time to meet prior to the deadline.  

In addition, check out the recording of the informational webinar starting at 19:55 for a walk through of how to submit your application on HeroX.  

Here are some tips to submit your application: 

  • Upload your video to a streaming service before submitting your application. Copy the link to the video and put the link in your HeroX application. See this tutorial for a step-by-step guide on how to upload a video to the YouTube app.  
  • Read the official rules for a complete list of what to include in your submission.  
  • Do not wait until the last minute, as uploading submissions can take longer than anticipated. Submissions received after the 5:00 p.m. ET deadline will not be accepted.  

We can’t wait to receive your application!  

Submissions Due Today

Dec. 4, 2024, 5:15 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

Today’s the day! Make sure to press the submit button on your Tribal College and University (TCU) Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize application before 5 p.m. ET today. Late submissions will not be accepted. Prize administrators strongly recommend submitting prior to the 5 p.m. ET deadline to manage connectivity issues or slow upload speeds.   

This is your chance to contribute to your TCU by bringing a clean energy project that grows food on campus AND earning cash prizes!  

 

Up to 30 teams will win a cash prize of $40,000 directly toward their TCU. A portion of these winnings is expected to cover travel expenses for at least three student team members and one faculty member to attend the Office of Indian Energy Annual Program Review event in person (tentatively scheduled for November 2025). 

We can’t wait to see your applications!  

Phase 1 Submissions Due Next Week

Nov. 25, 2024, 1:45 p.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

The TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize submission deadline is fast approaching on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET. The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays.   

Each competitor should read the official rules to see full details on what to include in an eligible submission:  

  • Online video: Create a video under 90 seconds that introduces the project, TCU, community, and team members in a fun and exciting way. 
  • Cover page: List basic information about your submission, including project title, TCU name, short description, and key members.  
  • Narrative: Use the three writing prompts in the official rules to guide your narrative. You may include up to five supporting images or figures. Narrative must not exceed 2,500 words (roughly five pages, not including images or figures).   
  • Summary PowerPoint slide: Make a one-slide submission summary that introduces your team and mission.  
  • Letter of commitment from TCU: Provide a signed letter of commitment from your TCU that confirms the TCU’s full support for the proposed project.    

Don’t miss this chance to increase renewable energy on TCU campuses. Upload your submission by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 4.   

We look forward to seeing your submissions! 

Forum6
Teams154
Entries
Resources
FAQ