Two projects from southern Illinois have been awarded an “Energizing Rural Communities Prize”.

Small, rural communities were challenged by the U.S. Department of Energy 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 are the recipients of the prize.

They have won $200,000 each in the second phase of the competition.