Washington, D.C. – Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) announced today that it is now accepting applications for its 2015 Energy Security Prize, powered by the InterTech Group. The Prize is designed to support the critical efforts of companies whose ingenuity, leadership, and perseverance are poised to advance American energy security by helping to end oil dependence. The grand prize winner of the 2015 Energy Security Prize will receive $125,000. The first runner-up will receive $35,000, and the second runner-up will receive $15,000.
Clemson University and CNBC are official partners of this year’s Energy Security Prize.
Oil remains the lifeblood of the American economy, powering 92 percent of our transportation and accounting for nearly 40 percent of our energy economy—more than any other fuel. This dependence distorts national priorities and causes serious economic harm by linking America’s national and economic security to the global oil market. Achieving lasting energy security will require technologies that diversify the fuels powering U.S. transportation and displace oil from the economy.
The Prize application period opens today, January 27, and lasts until 11:59 PM on April 10, 2015, with winners announced on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Applicants will be evaluated on a series of criteria, including oil displacement potential, competitive advantage over existing or incumbent technologies, scalability, industry interdependence, and value to the end user.
“America’s dependence on oil in the transportation sector poses serious security risks to our country’s economic well-being and national security,” said SAFE President and CEO Robbie Diamond. “The SAFE Energy Security Prize will reward and support companies that are harnessing the American spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship to create products that displace oil from our energy landscape.”
“This is more than a competition,” said John Ballato, vice president for economic development at Clemson. “The Prize recognizes and encourages the development of technology that can help reduce America’s oil dependence. That’s good for the environment, the economy and our security.”
SAFE awarded its inaugural Energy Security Prize in October 2013, recognizing three emerging companies for their promising technologies. This year’s Prize seeks to award companies whose innovative products are expected to reach the market within five years. Technologies must have the potential to meaningfully reduce long-term oil consumption.
This year’s Prize is powered by the InterTech Group in memory of its founder, Jerry Zucker. Mr. Zucker was an inventor, scientist, and businessman, driven by a life-long passion to create technologies that could revolutionize the world and improve the health of our country. Mr. Zucker’s ingenuity and support of tomorrow’s most promising innovations inspires SAFE and the Energy Security Prize to find and encourage the next generation of visionaries in their work to reduce U.S. oil consumption. To learn more about the prize and download the application form, please visit www.secureenergy.org/prize.
About Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)
Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is a nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil and improve U.S. energy security to bolster national security and strengthen the economy. SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in fuel efficiency, and in the long-term, breaking oil’s stranglehold on the transportation sector through alternatives like natural gas for heavy-duty trucks and plug-in electric vehicles. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing U.S. oil dependence.
Clemson University
Ranked No. 20 among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. Clemson is an inclusive, student-centered community characterized by high academic standards, a culture of collaboration, school spirit and a competitive drive to excel.
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