CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – The City of Carbondale, in partnership with sibling Jackson County community the , is getting a boost to help improve their energy systems and advance the use of clean energy.

The city is one of 67 winners in the first phase of the Department of Energy’s $6.7 million energizing rural communities’ prize.

Each of the awardees will receive $100,000, in-kind-mentorship services, and eligibility to compete in phase two of the prize to win an additional $200,000.

The City of Carbondale intends to use the funds awarded to conduct concurrent legal and technical analysis of what city staff have coined the “Energy Sovereignty, Security, & Democracy Proposal”, a revenue-positive and replicable rural energy system model that fosters equitable American self-sufficiency and lasting prosperity for our Nation’s recovering energy communities.