SOLVE IT Prize Results

SOLVE IT Prize

The Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies (SOLVE IT) Prize aims to empower communities to identify and implement innovative clean energy solutions in a way that works for their unique needs and challenges. Over three phases, competitors will work with communities to develop a credible path forward on clean energy projects that help address local challenges.

Phase 1 Embark

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded 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. 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 an 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 coastal 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 community-based 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.

Phase 2: Engage

Ten winners were announced from Phase 2: Engage of the SOLVE IT Prize. Winning teams received $150,000 each for collaborating with community stakeholders to identify clean energy or decarbonization projects that can address community priorities.

Congratulations to the Phase 2 winners!

  • Clearfork Valley Solar and Energy Efficiency (Clairfield, TN) – This team’s Woodland Community Land Trust decided on a solar project that will produce 1 MW of clean energy, create local jobs, and lower bills for residents.

  • Cooperative Energy Futures (Minneapolis, MN) - This team plans to pilot a district geothermal system, centered on an anchor building and connected to residences and buildings in the surrounding area.

  • Detroit MorningSide EcoDistrict (Detroit, MI) – This team’s Feed Your Neighborhood- Detroit Disaster Recovery Group plans to retrofit to the Grass Roots Organizing Work (GROW) House community hub with focus on solar panel installation and battery storage.

  • Duquesne Light Company – Project GREEN (Sharpsburg, PA) - This team plans to increase energy resilience for an urban greenhouse and grocery store with a solar system coupled with a waste-to-energy system.

  • Groundwork Elizabeth (Elizabeth, NJ) - Groundwork Elizabeth seeks incorporate solar and storage with geothermal to transform a community center into a decarbonized, energy-efficient Community Resilience Hub in Elizabeth, NJ.

  • Hui Ulu Mea ‘Ai for the Cultivation of Community Self-Reliance (Waiāhole, HI) - This team plans to develop a micro-hydropower system in Waiāhole Valley on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi to enable resilience in this rural community.

  • Puerto Rico Hydro Microgrid Partners (Utuado Municipio, PR) - This team plans to innovatively improve community resiliency with small hydroelectric powered microgrids for low-resourced, rural communities in Puerto Rico.

  • Salish Kootenai Energy Alliance (Pablo, MT) - This team’s project is a collaboration of tribal government, business, and non-profit leaders working to meet energy needs of the Flathead Indian Reservation.

  • SDSU & Torres Martinez Collaborative (Thermal, CA) - This team’s collaboration will facilitate the energy sovereignty of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians with solar-powered microgrids.

  • Town of Pennington Gap (Pennington Gap, VA) - This team’s Expanding Clean Energy in Appalachia project plans to develop solar with EV charging to address key community priorities, reduce costs, enhance public safety, and boost local economic resilience.