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Energy Department Renames NREL “National Laboratory of the Rockies”

Officials frame the rebrand as a move to a broader applied‑energy mission after a year of cuts to renewable‑focused work.

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visits the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) campus in Golden, Colorado, on April 3, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
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Overview

  • The change is effective immediately and already appears on the lab’s website and in DOE communications.
  • Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson said the department is "no longer picking and choosing energy sources," emphasizing investment in manufacturing and cost reduction.
  • Lab Director Jud Virden said the new name reflects a broader applied‑energy scope for the Golden, Colorado institution.
  • NREL’s spokesperson said no internal program changes are planned at this time, noting that funding is determined through congressional appropriations.
  • The rebrand follows layoffs of at least 114 employees earlier this year and has drawn warnings from critics who say it could weaken U.S. leadership in renewable research.