The U.S. Department of Energy has officially renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, marking a strategic shift toward a broader applied energy mission.
The department in a statement said the change takes effect immediately and will be incorporated across all public communication and official documentation.
Announcing the renaming, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson highlighted the changing national energy landscape and the need to expand scientific capability across the energy spectrum.
“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 emphasized the facility’s legacy and the expanded role it will play under its new identity.
“For decades, this laboratory and its scientific capabilities have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and delivered impact to the nation. 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 established in response to the 1973 oil crisis, NREL became a global leader in integrating technologies across the energy value chain — from power generation to transmission to end-use innovation.
While the lab has historically driven advancements in renewable and alternative energy, the department said renaming aligns with the current administration’s wider mandate to advance scientific research that strengthens American energy security, industrial competitiveness, and affordability.
The National Laboratory of the Rockies is expected to deepen its work across diverse energy domains, supporting the United States’ push to meet surging energy demand while reducing economic barriers for consumers and manufacturers.