BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constellation (Nasdaq: CEG), the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services, announced today it is now accepting applications for its 2024 E2 Energy to Educate grant program, which provides funding for student projects focusing on energy innovation. Educators and students in grades six through 12 can apply for program grants of up to $25,000, and those in two- and four-year colleges can apply for grants of up to $50,000. The deadline for applications is Oct. 1, 2024.
“Inspiring and developing the next generation of energy leaders is critical to advance the clean energy transition and mitigate the climate crisis,” said Kathleen Barrón, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Constellation. “From elementary schoolers to college students, Energy to Educate has provided hands-on exposure to energy innovation and STEM learning, and the extensive reach of this important program ensures a meaningful, positive impact across our communities.”
The E2 program granted more than $500,000 across 24 projects and reached nearly 25,000 students nationwide in 2023. Last year’s selected projects, which spanned 12 states, included training programs for nuclear science and hydrogen fuel, wind and solar energy design build competitions and programs focused on preparing youth for careers in STEM and clean, carbon-free energy. To date, the grant program has provided nearly $6 million for research and education projects that have fueled the exploration of STEM fields for nearly 300,000 students.
The Maryland KidWind program, conducted through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., was among the group of E2 winners in 2023. KidWind is a national hands-on wind turbine design competition that engages students in grades 4-12 in clean energy education.
“We are thrilled that Energy to Educate enabled hundreds of students across Maryland to be exposed to the KidWind curriculum and competition this past school year,” said Dr. Angela Stoltz, who helps lead the Maryland program. “We’re seeing a tangible impact as students’ interest in and knowledge of energy is growing, while teachers are gaining more capacity to expand STEM curricula in their classrooms. We are incredibly grateful to Constellation for supporting this important work.”
To be eligible for funding, a project must align with the following energy innovation themes:
- Access in Energy: How can we empower and engage underrepresented groups in the energy sector and inspire students from all socioeconomic groups to pursue STEM and energy careers? Projects showcase effective strategies to support increased access to good-paying careers in the energy industry and to deliver clean energy solutions to underserved and underrepresented communities. Projects may also address how they can advance environmental justice and economic inclusion in the energy transition.
- Sustainability Amidst Growing Energy Needs: As global energy consumption rises, the quest for sustainable solutions becomes increasingly critical. Innovations in electrification, transportation and artificial intelligence are poised to revolutionize energy usage in homes and communities and can help address climate change. Projects show the enhancement of existing products or new technologies for a cleaner energy future and how we can pave the way for a more sustainable world through decarbonization and energy-efficient choices. Projects may also showcase artificial intelligence as a pivotal ally in both pioneering new advancements and refining existing technologies.
- Nuclear Technology & Clean Energy: How can we harness the power of nuclear technology and other forms of zero-carbon generation to address the climate crisis using innovative and cutting-edge solutions such as advanced nuclear, zero-carbon energy generation systems and smart energy storage devices? Projects should show how they can create positive impacts for society, economy and environment, and how they can collaborate with various stakeholders, such as businesses, schools, governments and communities, to scale up their solutions and pilot programs.
Grant recipients are announced each year in November during American Education Week. To learn more about the program and application criteria, visit the Community section of constellationenergy.com.
In 2023, Constellation and its employees donated more than $18.7 million to nonprofit partners and 83% of the company’s direct giving supported organizations, programs events targeted specifically to diverse populations.
About Constellation
A Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG) is the nation’s largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services to businesses, homes, community aggregations and public sector customers across the continental United States, including three fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation’s largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 16 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation’s clean energy. We are further accelerating the nation’s transition to a carbon-free future by helping our customers reach their sustainability goals, setting our own ambitious goal of achieving 100% carbon-free generation by 2040, and by investing in promising emerging technologies to eliminate carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and X.
