June 28th, 2010
01:56 PM ET

X Prize's multimillion-dollar challenge for Gulf oil solutions

An EPA worker takes photos of oil coming ashore in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The X Prize Foundation announced today that it is developing a multimillion-dollar “oil spill cleanup X challenge” to come up with solutions to cleaning up shorelines and open water fouled by oil leaking from the BP Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Speaking at the TEDxOilSpill conference in Washington, Frances Beland of the X Prize Foundation asked the audience of 300, and many more watching the conference’s videostream, “What do you prize?” Beland told CNN after his appearance that the oil-related challenge will probably offer about $3 million in prize money for a cleanup solution.

The X Prize Foundation gained public attention for its X Prize of $10 million awarded for the development of private spacecraft, and the nonprofit foundation has created other prize challenges.

Beland said the foundation wanted to come up with a prize to find a solution to capping the well but found it was unable to obtain enough data to design such a challenge, so it opted to focus on the cleanup.

“We’re going to launch a prize for cleanup, and we’re going to kick ass,” he said, to applause.

Beland said 35,000 solutions to the Gulf crisis have been proposed to BP, the government and other organizations, including the X Prize Foundation.

“Every time we have a challenge, you know who wins? It’s not someone from the industry, it’s a maverick, a freethinker.”

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Filed under: BP • Gulf Coast Oil Spill • Gulf Coast Oil Spill environment • Oil disaster solutions
soundoff (213 Responses)
  1. Name*Jose f blanco

    Ok I made of idea for bp in 17 June 2012 My idea fixe oil spill Now what happen I need my xprize

    May 9, 2012 at 1:38 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jose f blanco

      Presidente and Bp call for help 1 call Bp i give solución fixe oil Spill gorfo of México in 28 june 2010 for phone the idea how made pipe he Bp put in gorfo of mexico for stop oil Spill Now im in xprize thank

      May 27, 2012 at 12:22 am | Report abuse |
  2. Name*Jose f blanco

    My idea I give to bp in June 2010 how made pipe stop oil spill in gorfo of Mexico What happen now were is the xprize oil spill

    May 17, 2012 at 2:28 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Name*Jose f blanco

    I'm happy for give idea to bp fixen oil spill in gorfo of Mexico now I'm in xprize I win 10.000000 I give good use y money I going to help of peopre of world thank

    May 26, 2012 at 10:13 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Name*Jose f blanco

    I look for my xprize oil spill 28 June 2010

    June 7, 2012 at 11:26 am | Report abuse |
  5. Name*Jose f blanco

    Is my idea of bp ingeniero erase all call I made in 28 June 2010 I give of idea to bp for made pipe to stop oil spill now bp he don't want pay for my idea save world and ocean I need my prize Jose f blanco

    June 8, 2012 at 5:19 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Name*Jose f blanco

    To cuando ledi la idea a bp not pense en dinero depue que paso un ano Fus que vi que el presidente ofrecio 10millone de dolare al que lediera la solucion del problems a bp y Yo ledis la idea a bp y dure Como 3dia espricando todo scerca del tubo con balbula Y bp Los frabrico de acuerdo a my idea hiso todo Los que yo le dije plobrema resurto 28june 2010

    June 19, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Name*Jose f blanco

    X prize he have truth of code numer for stop oil spill 28 June 2010

    July 1, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Name*Jose f blanco

    I give idea to bp in 17june 2010 / 28 June 2010 / 1 July 2010 for phone i prove all i say is truth I fix of Oil spill 28 June 2010 bp he don want pay of ingeniero want my prize Is truth Jose f blanco

    July 14, 2012 at 4:39 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Name*Jose f blanco

    My name Jose f blanco I give idea to bp in 17 June / 28june 2010 / 1 July 2010 I call every day to bp in June to july I give all informecion how made pipe babula For stop oil spill And bp give to me code numer for my prize bp give to me bp he don't give bp ignore me of ingeniero made fraude Erase all in bp I have prove in my computer thank Jose f blanco

    July 14, 2012 at 6:30 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Name*Jose f blanco

    I'm of challenge 2010

    July 14, 2012 at 9:07 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Name*Jose f blanco

    I need my prize for idea 28 June 2010 I win

    July 21, 2012 at 7:22 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Name*Jose f blanco

    I fix oil spill in 17 June 2010 bp only he don't want to pay He going to pay me I'm chalinger oil spill thank

    August 9, 2012 at 9:02 am | Report abuse |
  13. Name*Jose f blanco

    I fix oil spill 17 June 2010 Ok

    August 16, 2012 at 8:24 am | Report abuse |
  14. Name*Jose f blanco

    Ok don't pay Me I'm Hispani

    September 4, 2012 at 8:36 pm | Report abuse |
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