Carrier Mills and Dowell Initiatives Recognized for Clean Energy Leadership in Rural Communities
DOWELL, CARBONDALE, AND CARRIER MILLS, Ill. — Two projects from Southern Illinois have been awarded an “Energizing Rural Communities Prize,” the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations announced Wednesday. This prize challenged small, rural communities to develop partnerships and financing strategies to improve energy systems and advance clean energy demonstration projects.
The “Coal to Solar in Carrier Mills” initiative and the “Energy Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy” partnership between the Village of Dowell and the City of Carbondale have each won $200,000 in the second phase of the competition, which supports clean energy advancements in rural communities.
“We are incredibly proud that the Village of Carrier Mills has been recognized for our work through the award of the Energizing Rural Communities Prize. Energy audits were completed on nine community buildings providing us with information on how energy upgrades and clean energy can save electricity and reduce costs for the village,” said Mayor Tracy Felty, of Carrier Mills. “With that information, we’ve initiated a pilot solar installation at our wastewater plant, and that is just the beginning of what’s possible. We are committed to continuing this journey, and we hope our efforts inspire other rural communities to pursue clean energy solutions.”
“The Village of Dowell and City of Carbondale team is delighted to be awarded the Energizing Rural Communities Prize Phase 2 for our partnership. In the near-term, this funding will allow us to install rooftop solar on the Village Hall and Fire Station so our community members can see the benefit to our pocketbook firsthand,” said Mayor Debi Gresham, of Dowell.
“This award is a testament to how our rural communities are driving common sense energy solutions,” said Lauren Becker, Planner & Sustainability Coordinator of Carbondale. “Looking to the future, this funding will be critical in building out our model of American self-sufficiency and regional resilience as we partner to plan projects that bring the benefits of clean energy to all community members.”
Carrier Mills: Transitioning from Coal to Solar
The Coal to Solar in Carrier Mills project is a collaborative effort led by the Village of Carrier Mills, Carrier Mills-Stonefort Schools District, Carrier Mills Park District, Saline County Industrial Development Corporation, and Prairie Rivers Network. Over the past year, the nonprofit Prairie Rivers Network worked closely with the village and partners to explore clean energy opportunities, supported by the DOE’s prize. Carrier Mills, once a hub of coal mining, is now surrounded by former coal mine lands, some reclaimed and some that are still not to this day. Carrier Mills is now taking bold steps to move toward a clean energy future.
Through this initiative, energy audits were conducted by the University of Illinois’ Smart Energy Design Assistance Center on community-owned buildings such as the water treatment plant, municipal building, park district, library, and school district. Community outreach and educational efforts have also been pivotal in building support for renewable energy options. A pilot solar project at the Carrier Mills wastewater plant is underway.
“Our collaboration with the Village of Carrier Mills has proven that rural communities can take the lead in clean energy transitions,” said Amanda Pankau, Director of Energy and Community Resiliency at Prairie Rivers Network. “We hope other rural communities will take these projects and use them as they begin to navigate the energy transition.”
Carbondale and Dowell: A Blueprint for Rural Energy Innovation
The Village of Dowell, in partnership with the City of Carbondale, has been awarded the Energizing Rural Communities Prize for its forward-looking rural energy system model. With the support of this prize, Carbondale and Dowell aim to design a revenue-positive energy system that fosters equitable and sustainable prosperity for rural areas. This community-empowered project involves comprehensive legal and technical analysis, focusing on replicable models that could serve other rural communities across the country.
Energy Sovereignty is defined as, “an approach to the energy resource that prioritizes public ownership and decision-making to foster local self-sufficiency, improved capacity, resource conservation, community wealth-building, political autonomy, and lasting economic prosperity” by the Illinois Power Agency.
If you or someone you know are interested in hosting a community conversation about the Energy Sovereignty, Security & Democracy Proposal, please reach out to Lauren Becker at lbecker@carbondaleil.gov.
The Energizing Rural Communities Prize
Both projects are part of the DOE’s American-Made Challenge, a national competition to incentivize innovation in clean energy. Each team has received $200,000 in the second phase of the competition, along with additional mentorship services to further advance their clean energy goals.
