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HBCUs are making great progress towards net-zero emissions and promoting diversity in clean energy

Summary

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are actively contributing to clean energy research and promoting diversity in the field. Dominion Energy has pledged $25 million to support HBCUs in clean energy research, and the Department of Energy (DOE) has funded HBCUs for biofuel and solar-plus-storage projects. The DOE plans to invest in solar and nuclear energy, energy storage, carbon capture, and efficient mineral use through funding opportunities. Howard University has become the first HBCU to join the governing alliance board of directors for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, creating opportunities for underrepresented students in renewable energy careers. The DOE has also announced the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize worth $7.75 million to encourage HBCU institutions to create programs that increase K-12 and community college students' participation in STEM fields related to clean energy. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has established the Center for Electrochemical Dynamics and Reactions on Surfaces (CEDARS) to focus on clean energy initiatives. The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) has been actively working on community-led solutions to address the climate crisis and has made progress in empowering communities impacted by environmental racism. The Biden Administration's commitment to environmental justice, as demonstrated through the Justice40 approach, has involved DSCEJ in engagements and actions to address environmental injustice. The EPA has also announced the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights to advance environmental justice in overburdened communities.

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