Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2
The American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2 is a multimillion-dollar prize competition supporting grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in clean energy development.
Structured for Success
The Community Energy Innovation Prize incentivizes organizations working in the service of historically underrepresented communities to advance grassroots innovations in clean energy, manufacturing, and vehicle technology ecosystems. Competitors have the chance to win part of $8.42 million in prizes to help them advance in the competition and accelerate the development of their solution.
Competitors can participate in one of three tracks: the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, and the Vehicles Ecosystem Track, each of which has distinct goals and submission requirements over three phases: CONCEPT, PROGRESS, and IMPACT. In addition to prize awards, winning competitors in all three tracks will receive in-kind mentorship through Power Connectors and other support services, valued at approximately $400,000 across all competitors.
- CONCEPT Phase - Teams develop and submit Impact Plans describing their team and partners, the proposed activities, a budget, and the communities they intend to work with.
- PROGRESS Phase - Teams implement their planned community activities outlined in their Impact Plan and report on their progress.
- IMPACT Phase - Teams continue to implement and complete the activities outlined in their Impact Plan. At the end of the IMPACT Phase, competitors present their activities and impacts and compete for a portion of the GRAND PRIZE.
Connecting You to the Innovation Engine
The American-Made Network provides support to Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2 competitors throughout the competition and is comprised of national labs, incubators, investors, facilities, and seasoned industry mentors. The American-Made Network strengthens and scales the critical connections needed to grow new businesses, develop solutions, and sustain American innovation.
Who Can Compete
The Clean Energy Ecosystem, Manufacturing Ecosystem, and Vehicles Ecosystem Tracks are open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals.
Competitors in the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track may focus on any range of clean energy technologies or initiatives. Competitors in the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track must have an explicit connection to sustainable manufacturing. Competitors in the Vehicles Ecosystem Track must focus their efforts on sustainable transportation technologies or initiatives.