Energy Department Renames NREL “National Lab of the Rockies”

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy today renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The renaming is effective immediately and will be reflected in all public communications and official correspondence.

“The energy crisis we face today is unlike the crisis that gave rise to NREL,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. “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 Lab 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 NLR Laboratory Director Jud Virden. “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.”

Founded in response to the 1973 oil crisis, NREL 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 new name reflects the Trump Administration’s broader vision for the lab’s applied energy research, which historically emphasized alternative and renewable sources of generation, and honors the natural splendor of the lab’s surroundings in Golden, Colorado.

For more information on NLR’s mission and activities, visit the lab’s website.