- The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been officially renamed the National Laboratory of the Rockies, marking a shift toward a broader applied-energy mission under the Trump administration.
- The new name takes effect immediately and will appear across all public and official communications.
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Audrey Robertson said the change reflects the administration’s expanded priorities in addressing what she described as the nation’s evolving energy challenges.
“The energy crisis we face today is unlike the crisis that gave rise to NREL,” Robertson said. “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.”
Laboratory director Jud Virden said the new name acknowledges both the lab’s geographic identity and its broadened federal mandate.
“For decades, this laboratory and its scientific capabilities have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and delivered impact to the nation,” Virden said. “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.”
Originally founded in response to the 1973 oil crisis, NREL became a central hub for the development and integration of renewable and alternative energy technologies across the U.S. power system. Federal officials said the updated name aligns the lab with the administration’s expanded vision for applied energy research while also highlighting its Colorado Rockies setting in Golden, Colorado.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
