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Section 1 of the HBCU Clear Power Training Prize Awards $100,000 to HBCUs To Develop Subsequent Technology of Clear Power Leaders

As we speak, the U.S. Division of Power (DOE) introduced the winners of the primary part of the Traditionally Black Schools and Universities (HBCU) Clear Power Training Prize Partnerships Monitor. The Partnerships Monitor is one in every of two tracks within the HBCU Clear Power Training Prize, which is awarding almost $8 million to profitable HBCUs to assist put together the subsequent technology of unpolluted power leaders.

Not solely are the winners being introduced throughout Black Historical past Month, however the HBCU Clear Power Training Prize additionally comes at a important time for the science, know-how, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) subject. As of 2021, almost one in 4 folks within the U.S. workforce (24%) had been employed in STEM roles. In keeping with the Nationwide Science Basis, solely 9% of STEM employees are Black.

The Partnerships Monitor is tackling this disparity whereas additionally serving to to satisfy the demand for a rising clear power workforce by empowering HBCUs to construct partnerships that open the door to new clear power sources and alternatives for HBCU college students.

The Partnerships Monitor

Beginning in August 2023, HBCUs had been challenged to create partnerships with authorities businesses, trade leaders, and different universities geared toward long-term instructional program development and assist for undergraduate and graduate college students. Along with their companions, HBCUs developed plans for superior clear power programming akin to graduate certificates, internship applications, analysis partnerships, and extra.

By these partnerships and new applications, the prize winners will help generate new clean-energy-focused alternatives for HBCU college students—each academically and within the workforce—for years to come back. The ten winners of this part had been every awarded $100,000, with a complete monitor award pool of $6.75 million.

“It is a pivotal second for the clear power transition,” mentioned Terrence Mosley, DOE Workplace of Power Effectivity and Renewable Power senior advisor for range and STEM. “By kickstarting these partnerships, we’re giving extra communities an opportunity to get entangled within the clear power sector and play a task in shaping the long run power panorama.”

This monitor works hand in hand with the Encourage Monitor, the opposite monitor of the HBCU Clear Power Training Prize, which helps the event of clean-energy-focused tutorial break applications for Ok–12 and neighborhood school college students. Encourage Monitor Section 1 winners had been introduced final October.

Meet the Winners

• Albany State College: Albany State’s “Group-Up on Tackling Crises of Power and Local weather” is a partnership with College of Central Florida and Georgia Tech to advertise alternatives for HBCU college students in research-intensive labs.
• Clark Atlanta College: The “CAU AI – Sustainable Local weather Innovation Middle Hub” is a market enabler to advertise clear power applied sciences and workforce improvement.
• Dillard College: “Consciousness to Transformation (A₂T)” is an initiative that may have interaction inner and exterior companions to create a brand new clear power minor and certification program.
• Florida A&M College: The “EmpowerEd HBCU Partnership Initiative” is a program fostering clear power careers by a strategic partnership with South Carolina State College to create hands-on scholar engagement.
• Howard College: The “Howard-Drexel Clear Power Partnership” is a proposed cross-university trade program with Drexel College that may practice college students in clear power.
• Jackson State College: The “Fostering Scholar Coaching in Clear Power at JSU” program is designed to teach and practice Jackson State College college students within the clear power area by partnerships with different institutes and corporations.
• Morehouse School: MC’s “Unifying Energies: The UE Challenge” is a collaborative effort between six HBCUs that goals to empower college students to not solely be a part of but additionally change into leaders within the inexperienced power revolution.
• Southern College and A&M School: Southern’s “Energizing Minds by Superior Clear Power Training (EMACE)” partnership will create a clear power program to assist college students achieve certifications through collaborations with academia, labs, industries, and different organizations.
• Southern College at Shreveport: The “Energy Joint Method to Inexperienced Options (JAGS)” will work to empower clear power leaders by making a pipeline that fosters training, expertise, and neighborhood.
• Tennessee State College: Tennessee State’s “Clear Power Academy” will set up trade partnerships to leverage experience in growing and delivering instructional applications.

What Is Subsequent?

Now that the winners have been introduced, they may transfer onto Section 2 of the prize. For the subsequent 5 months, the ten winners will construct on the plans they created in Section 1, specializing in fostering sustainable partnerships, programming, and engagement mechanisms. This part comes with the potential for as much as $400,000 in extra funding per profitable crew.

The remaining groups may have an opportunity to obtain a 3rd spherical of funding throughout Section 3 of the competition. The ultimate three Partnerships Monitor winners shall be introduced in early 2025 and can cut up a $1.75 million pool. In the meantime, the ultimate winners of the Encourage Monitor shall be introduced this summer time.

“It’s thrilling to be part of this push to foster fairness within the STEM subject and produce new concepts into the clear power area,” Mosley mentioned. “We congratulate the winners and sit up for seeing how their plans progress over Section 2.”

Be taught extra in regards to the HBCU Clear Power Training Partnerships Monitor and Encourage Monitor. Subscribe to the American-Made e-newsletter for updates on the most recent prizes and competitions.

Article courtesy of NREL. By Tim Meehan