U.S. Department of Energy Renames NREL as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, Expands Mandate to Broader Applied Energy Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has officially renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, marking a strategic shift toward a wider applied energy research mission. The new name takes effect immediately and will appear across all official DOE communications and documentation.

Announcing the change, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson said the evolving energy landscape requires a broader scientific mandate than when NREL was established.

“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 scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, reduce costs, and help the country meet its growing energy demand. The National Laboratory of the Rockies will play a vital role in those efforts.”

Laboratory Director Jud Virden said the new identity reflects the lab’s expanded responsibilities under the DOE.

“For decades, this laboratory and its scientific capabilities have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and delivered national impact,” Virden said. “This new name embraces a broader applied energy mission entrusted to us to deliver a more affordable and secure energy future.”

Established in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, NREL became a cornerstone of U.S. research in renewable and alternative energy technologies across generation, distribution, and end-use applications. The renaming aligns with the Trump administration’s shift toward a more expansive vision for applied energy research while also paying tribute to the lab’s location in Golden, Colorado, and the surrounding Rocky Mountains.