GOLDEN — The U.S. Department of Energy Monday renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, dubbing it the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
The new name is effective immediately and will be reflected in all public communications and official correspondence, according to a press release.
“The energy crisis we face today is unlike the crisis that gave rise to NREL,” Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson said in the release. “We are no longer picking and choosing energy sources. Our highest priority is to invest in the scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, drive down costs, and help this country meet its soaring energy demand. The National Laboratory of the Rockies will play a vital role in those efforts.”
“For decades, this laboratory and its scientific capabilities have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and delivered impact to the nation,” said Jud Virden, laboratory director of the National Laboratory of the Rockies. “This new name embraces a broader applied energy mission entrusted to us by the Department of Energy to deliver a more affordable and secure energy future for all.”
NREL was founded in response to the 1973 oil crisis and spearheaded the development and integration of a broad array of technologies for every facet of the energy system, from generation to distribution to end use.The move reflects a broader push by the Trump Administration to roll back renewable-energy and climate-change initiatives. The Energy Department in May cut 114 jobs at NREL and in October announced $7.56 billion in cuts to climate-change research, including $550 million in Colorado.
