West Baltimore students win national recognition for solutions in clean energy [Video]

BALTIMORE — The Requity Workforce Program that sits across the street from Carver Vocational-Technical High School, provides students with hands-on trade experience while revitalizing their neighborhood — a model now being recognized and replicated.

The team is one of the top winners of the Community Energy Innovation Prize, a competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage clean energy projects in underserved communities. It offers up to $7.5 million in funding and mentorship opportunities to boost innovation in places that have historically received less energy funding.

“It was an amazing experience. It really made me feel like the hard work is paying off,” said said Elisha Johnson, Requity Program Manager.

Over 170 organizations submitted applications but Requity secured the grand prize. They were awarded $310,000 and won another $200,000 in prize money, reaching to over half a million dollars.

The teams were tasked with one mission, create …