WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-led U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) program announced that the Texas A&M Energy Institute is joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI) and the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy to support implementation of the C3E program to advance women’s participation and leadership in clean energy.

“As a proud Aggie, I am thrilled to see my alma mater joining this important effort to encourage women to lead the way to our energy future,” said Secretary Rick Perry. “With this type of collaborative effort by such distinguished institutions, our energy workforce will continue to expand beyond measure.”

The new collaboration with the Texas A&M Energy Institute will broaden the geographic reach and diversity representation of the United States C3E program and help further promote women’s leadership in the energy sector.

"At the Texas A&M Energy Institute, we are dedicated to discovering energy solutions that improve the quality of life for all people," said Stratos Pistikopoulos, interim co-director and deputy director of the Texas A&M Energy Institute. "Through a partnership within the Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) initiative, we believe that we can encourage positive change that will bring awareness and recognition to the significant role that women play in conceiving, designing, and implementing a clean energy future for Texas, the United States, and the world."

Key elements of the U.S. C3E program include the C3E Ambassadors, senior leaders who serve as role models and advocates for women in clean energy, and the annual C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium, designed to help women in the clean energy sector build the skills and professional networks needed to succeed. Many participants say that the symposium inspired them to take the next step in their careers, whether by taking on a new leadership role or starting a clean energy business. Each symposium honors winners of the C3E Awards, which recognize the outstanding leadership and achievements of mid-career women working to advance clean energy. C3E Awards are given in eight categories: Advocacy, Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Government, International, Law & Finance, and Research.

Over the past six years, DOE and MITEI have collaborated on the planning and implementation of the annual awards program and symposium, with the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy joining the collaboration in 2016. That responsibility will now be shared with the Texas A&M Energy Institute, which will host the event on a rotating basis and host this year’s Ambassadors retreat. The seventh annual symposium will be held at Stanford University in December 2018, and the eighth symposium will be at Texas A&M in 2019.

“MITEI is thrilled for Texas A&M Energy Institute's collaboration in the U.S. Clean Energy, Education & Empowerment program,” said MITEI Executive Director Martha Broad. “Their support will help even more women advance and achieve recognition for their clean energy careers while expanding the vibrant C3E network.”

“C3E recognizes that the ideas and talents of all members of society are essential to meeting our future energy challenges, and that more women's participation and leadership is key to realizing that future,” said Sally Benson, co-director of Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy. “Texas A&M Energy Institute joining in this work is a major advance, and I’m delighted to have the Aggies as partners.”