REpowering Schools

10/14/2026

[DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR CWC+ 2027: OCTOBER 16, 2026]

Registration applications are being accepted for the scheduled May 2027 competition. Interested teams must submit their application by 5:00 p.m. MT on October 16, 2026.

Newly added: The 2027 Regional Rules are available online, and teams can also watch the CWC+ informational webinar recording for an overview of the competition, key updates, and what to expect for the 2027 season.

Learn more, and register by October 16th for the 2027 CWC+ events:

Planning to participate in the 2027 CWC+? Watch the recording of our September 24, 2026 informational webinar, which was designed to help teams prepare for the upcoming season.

10/09/2026

🎉 We're excited to officially launch the REpowering Careers Fellowship student cohort, powered by REpowering Schools and supported by Google!

This fall, we're welcoming our first cohort of students, who kicked off their fellowship experience led by Remy Luerssen Pangle at the 2026 Virginia Clean Energy Summit ( ) in Richmond, Virginia, October 7–8.

What a way to get started!

Today, our student fellows experienced an exciting moment at the summit, hearing from Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to serve as governor in the Commonwealth's history.

Yesterday, our fellows participated in an engaging student and industry roundtable, connecting directly with clean energy professionals, exchanging ideas, and gaining valuable perspectives on career pathways across the industry.

A special thank you to our industry panelists for sharing their time, expertise, and insights with our inaugural cohort:

• Alexander Baad, PMP — EVNoire
• Ashley McLeod — Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority (VOWDA)
• Luke Somers — Apex Clean Energy
• Raye E. — FLIPP Inc
• Erika Keja Reel — FLIPP Inc
• Spencer Barras — Virginia Department of Energy
• Lisa Oliver — Fisher Associates

These meaningful connections are exactly what the REpowering Careers Fellowship is all about: bridging the gap between education and industry while helping students explore opportunities in the clean energy workforce.

We're proud to welcome this inaugural cohort and grateful to Google and our industry partners for helping make these opportunities possible.

Here's to new connections, meaningful experiences, and the next generation of clean energy leaders!

🔗 Read more at repoweringschools.org/programs

10/02/2026

A great opportunity to see clean energy in action! ☀️

American Solar Energy Society - ASES's National Solar Tour returns this weekend, October 2–4, with homes, businesses, and community sites across the country opening their doors to showcase solar and clean energy technologies in the real world.

Now in its 31st year, the tour is a great way to learn directly from the people and communities putting these technologies to work.

Check out the post below to find a tour near you — or join virtually! Learn more here: map.nationalsolartour.org

10/02/2026

Planning to participate in the 2027 CWC+? The deadline to register is October 16, 2026.

Watch the recording of our September 24, 2026 informational webinar, which was designed to help teams prepare for the upcoming season.

During the webinar, we covered:

📍 The full competition timeline, important dates & registration
📍 Key program updates and major rule changes
📍 An introduction to the new Project Development Challenge, focused on powering a large load
📍 Questions from participating and prospective teams

Whether you’re returning to CWC+ or considering participating for the first time, the webinar provides a helpful overview of the competition, what’s changing for 2027, and how teams can begin preparing for the upcoming season.

Watch the Webinar:

Learn about the 2027 CWC+ hosted by REpowering Schools. We discuss...

10/01/2026

Applications open for the 2026–2027 AES Seed Grant Program!

REpowering Schools is proud to partner with The AES Corporation to support college and university student teams conducting meaningful, student-led research focused on real-world challenges and opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

Selected teams can receive $5,000–$10,000 in funding to complete a research project during the Spring 2027 semester.

Projects may focus on:

⚡ Stakeholder engagement and community sentiment
🔋 Renewable energy + battery storage for power and resiliency
🌱 Renewable energy and sustainable land-use practices
🤝 Energy justice, advocacy, and public support

Student teams must include at least two college or university students and a faculty advisor, and interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

📅 Applications are open September 14–October 30, 2026.

This is an opportunity for students to move beyond the classroom, investigate questions facing the renewable energy industry, and develop research that can help communities, decision-makers, and industry partners build a stronger energy future.

Learn more and apply:

REpowering Schools offers seed funding for universities, colleges, and community colleges related to topics relevant to the renewable energy industry.

09/30/2026

CWC 2027 is on, and we’re excited to introduce CWC+, the Clean Energy Workforce Competition.

Formerly the Collegiate Wind Competition, CWC+ builds on more than a decade of success while expanding its mission to prepare students for careers across the clean energy workforce through hands-on, project-based learning.

Managed by REpowering Schools and a consortium of U.S. universities, CWC+ will bring teams together in May 2027 for real-world challenges in technology, project development, finance, outreach, and energy systems.

The 2027 Regional Rules are now available online, and teams can also watch the CWC+ informational webinar recording for an overview of the competition, key updates, and what to expect for the 2027 season.

We’re proud to carry this incredible program into its next chapter and excited for what’s ahead.

Learn more, and register by October 16th (deadline extended) for the 2027 CWC+ events: repoweringschools.org/collegiate-competition

09/24/2026

Join REpowering Schools at RE+ Events 2026!

REpowering Schools (REpS) aims to help cultivate and support the future of the renewable energy workforce by facilitating conference experiences and student symposia.

Through these experiences, REpS provides unique on-site experiences and hotel accommodations for attendees of this year's RE+ Event. Space is limited!

Learn more and apply now for our 2026 RE+ Conference Experience, November 16-19, in Las Vegas, NV, and gain visibility at North America's largest clean energy gathering.

Apply here: https://www.repoweringschools.org/conference-experiences-and-student-symposia

09/23/2026

Join Us for the CWC+ Informational Webinar by signing up here: https://bit.ly/CWC-Rules

Date: September 24, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free

We’ll walk through what’s ahead for 2027, including:

📅 The full 2027 competition timeline
📝 Key updates and major rule changes
⚡ The new Project Development Challenge focused on powering a large load
💬 Your questions about the upcoming season

Whether you’re returning to CWC+ or considering participating for the first time, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about the competition, the rules, understand what’s changing, and start preparing your team for the 2027 season.

Bring your questions! We look forward to seeing you there!

Learn more at repoweringschools.org/collegiate-competition

09/14/2026

Calling college and university students: Applications are OPEN for the 2026–2027 AES Seed Grant Program!

REpowering Schools and our partner The AES Corporation are offering student teams $5,000–$10,000 grants to explore real-world challenges and opportunities shaping the renewable energy industry.

Research projects can focus on topics including:

⚡ Community and stakeholder engagement
🔋 Renewable energy and battery storage
🌱 Sustainable land-use practices
🤝 Energy justice, advocacy, and public support

Teams must include two or more college or university students and identify a faculty advisor. Students from different academic backgrounds are encouraged to collaborate — from engineering and environmental science to public policy, communications, planning, and beyond.

Selected teams will conduct their research during the Spring 2027 semester, gaining practical experience while producing work that can benefit communities, stakeholders, and the renewable energy field.

💰 Grants: $5,000–$10,000
📅 Apply: September 14–October 30, 2026
🎓 Projects: Spring 2027

Learn more and apply ➡️ [LINK] https://www.repoweringschools.org/project-based-funding

Thank you to AES for partnering with us to invest in student innovation and the future renewable energy workforce!

09/01/2026

CWC 2027 is on, and we’re excited to introduce CWC+, the Clean Energy Workforce Competition.

Formerly known as the Collegiate Wind Competition, CWC+ reflects the program’s continued evolution under the management of REpowering Schools and a consortium of U.S. universities: California State University Maritime Academy - Cal Maritime, Penn State University, and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Applications are now being accepted for the scheduled May 2027 competition. Interested teams must submit their application by 5:00 p.m. MT on September 30, 2026. Updated competition rules will be posted soon, along with the May dates for each event so teams can plan around their academic calendars.

As CWC transitions from Department of Energy support and National Laboratory of the Rockies implementation, some changes to the competition are inevitable. With gratitude to the many people and organizations who have helped make this event so successful over the past decade, we look forward to building on that strong foundation with the continued support of CWC alums, past sponsors, and new partners to carry this incredible event into its next chapter.

While the competition honors its strong legacy, the new name and identity better represent its broader mission: preparing students for careers across the clean energy workforce through hands-on, project-based learning.
CWC+ brings together real-world experience in technology, project development, finance, outreach, and energy systems, helping prepare the next generation of clean energy leaders.

We’re proud to share this new identity and excited for what’s ahead.

Learn more and apply for the 2027 CWC+ events: repoweringschools.org/collegiate-competition