The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiates a fresh sequence of national competitions focused on climate resilience prizes.
A press release states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a prize competition to focus on clean energy sources in order to maintain critical services during power outages. This announcement underscores DHS's endeavors to confront the risks brought by climate change.
Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology shared how to mitigate risks concerning climate change.
"It is a priority for us to ensure the country can mitigate the many risks that come with climate change," Kusnezov said. "More frequent and severe weather events will increase the likelihood of power outages all over the country."
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is responsible for managing the competition, which aims to crowdsource innovation and utilize the ingenuity of Americans to address pressing homeland security issues.
"The speed with which technology is advancing provides opportunities to increase our effectiveness through innovation," Kusnezov said. "Harnessing the benefits offered by these advances is particularly important to our work during emergencies when it is imperative that our critical infrastructure remains functional and can serve our communities."
Therefore, the objective of the Clean Power for Hours Challenge is to find innovative backup power solutions that can enable essential institutions such as hospitals, fire stations, and shelters to function during power outages.
"The Clean Power for Hours Challenge opens a door for the creative and innovative minds of our nation to submit clean energy solutions that will effectively support communities in times of need,” Kusnezov said.
This leads the competition to seek affordable, eco-friendly power solutions for institutions.
The competition seeks solutions that are environmentally friendly, reasonably priced, easy to operate, and can provide backup power to vital institutions serving communities throughout the United States. This is particularly significant for National Critical Functions (NCF) that support essential community services.
By involving people who are innovative and creative in addressing climate resilience in this challenge.
"Harnessing grassroots innovators to help us address climate resilience in this challenge can further enhance our mission to protect everyday Americans," Kusnezov said.
