OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Phase Two Winners in the Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize

Today (June 1), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that all 10 teams participating in the inaugural American-Made Community Clean Energy Coalition (CCEC) Prize successfully completed Phase Two and will each be awarded $150,000 in cash prizes. The CCEC Prize is a multiphase competition aimed at developing partnerships between organizations within communities to address energy and sustainability challenges. The goal of the prize, one of several DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy initiatives focused on justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, is to recognize and encourage coalitions assisting underrepresented communities to address local energy challenges with clean, renewable solutions.

"Underrepresented communities face disproportionately high energy costs and often struggle to access new clean energy technologies," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alejandro Moreno. "This prize is an example of a tool the Energy Department is using to help these communities see the benefits of current climate and energy investments, to minimize energy burdens for all Americans, and to support the transition to a clean energy economy."

Through the CCEC Prize, EERE challenged participants to develop community coalitions made up of nonprofits, city governments, school systems, and other community organizations in Phase One. Once the coalitions were in place, teams were tasked in Phase Two with developing an implementation plan to address a local clean energy opportunity or inequity. Strategies varied widely and included student education, workforce trainings, and identifying new technologies that align with the goals of the White House's Justice40 Initiative.

All participating teams are moving on to Phase Three to begin implementing their plans, including:

• Weku, Inc. (formerly Positive Energy Coalition), Tulsa, OK
• Change is in the Air: Gresham Coalition, Multnomah County, OR
• HBCU Green Town Project (formerly HBCU Community Development Action Coalition), Denmark, SC; Orangeburg, SC; and New Orleans, LA
• ReBuildATL Coalition, Atlanta, GA
• Missoula's Clean Energy Workforce Coalition, Missoula, MT
• Revitalize Our Communities (ROC) Clean Energy Coalition, Atlanta, GA
• Green for All Business Council (formerly Green Business Council), 10 communities across the United States
• Team Philly, Philadelphia, PA
• New Orleans Clean Energy Collective (formerly NOLA Clean Energy Collective), New Orleans, LA
• Asociación de Residentes de la Margarita, Salinas, Puerto Rico.

The prize will conclude after Phase Three with a CCEC Prize Summit this fall, where competitors who will have the opportunity to present their progress, then network with other potential sponsors and philanthropic partners. All coalitions who complete satisfactory Phase Three submissions and event presentations will receive $25,000 to help execute their plans. Following presentations, EERE will award an additional $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 at the summit to the first, second, and third place winners, respectively.

Read more about DOE's Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize.