Turn Your Innovation Into Industry Recognition
Are you a coal related industry worker that has contributed to increased safety & health, efficiency, or other critical aspects of your job because of an innovative idea you or your team implemented?
The Coal Users' Group wants to celebrate it. The CUG Innovative Initiative Awards
For 25 years, CUG has championed safety, reliability, and innovation across the coal industry. Now we're spotlighting the best ideas from the people doing the work.
Winners present at our Annual Safety and Technical Forum. All entries get recognized. Your innovation gets shared industry-wide.
Why Enter?
✓ Recognition from industry leaders
✓ Influence – your solution could become standard practice
✓ Impact – help peers solve similar challenges
✓ Visibility – present to hundreds of industry professionals | What We're Looking For
Ideas that deliver real results in:
- Safety & Health – injury prevention, hazard elimination, PPE improvements
- Efficiency – heat rate gains, outage optimization, maintenance innovations
- Environmental – emissions reduction, water management, dust control
- Operations – stockpile management, equipment performance, automation
- Community – workforce development, local engagement, education
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How to Submit
- Describe your innovation – What problem did you solve? How did you solve it?
- Show the impact – Data, testimonials, before/after comparisons
- Complete the application – [Online form link]
Submission Period: March 1 – November 14, 2025
Awards Announced: December 2025
Recognition Event: January 2026 Technical Forum | San Antonio, Texas | Who Can Submit?
Coal Users: Power plants, mines, terminals, transportation, industrial producers (paper, cement, lime)
Vendors & Suppliers: Partner with a coal user to nominate your joint solution
Students: Submit projects developed with coal industry partners |
2025 Winners | |
 QPL and SBPL: A Legacy of Environmental Stewardship and Excellence, Our Trees and Mangrove Earth Balling and Growing Initiative Quezon Power Limited Co. and San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co.
|  Controlling Transfer Point Airflow to Reduce Coal Dust at Rush Island Ameren/Martin Engineering
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Example submission ideas: (but not limited to these areas)
• Emission Solutions
• Improvements to heat rate
• Staffing/Safety/Savings during a planned outage
• Housekeeping improvements
• Coal stockpile improvements
• Mobile equipment fuel consumption reduction
• Fire risk reduction
• Transportation enhancements
• Safety & Health enhancements
• Community & Educational efforts
Ready to Get Recognized?
Submit the form below to be considered as an award recipient.
