The U.S. Department of Energy has renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado to the National Laboratory of the Rockies, removing the word 'renewable' from its title. This change reflects the Trump administration's broader vision for energy research, amid efforts to prioritize fossil fuels over renewables. The lab, a key player in solar and wind innovations since the 1970s, faces potential budget cuts and layoffs.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, located in Colorado, has undergone a significant rebranding announced by the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this month. The facility will now be known as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, signaling a shift away from its historical emphasis on renewable energy sources.
Established in response to the oil shocks of the early 1970s, the lab has been instrumental in advancing solar and wind technologies. It has secured hundreds of patents and numerous honors for developments such as advanced wind turbines suited for cold environments, enhanced solar cell efficiency, super-thin solar films, and efficient catalytic converters. These innovations have helped make renewable energy more competitive in cost.
Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson stated, “We are no longer picking and choosing energy sources.” This comes as President Donald Trump, in his second term starting in January 2025, has focused on boosting fossil fuel production while reducing investments in renewables.
Despite the name change, wind and solar energy remain listed as research priorities on the lab's website. NREL spokesperson David Glickson told E&E News there are no planned shifts “at this time.” However, the administration has proposed a 70 percent budget cut for the lab in the 2026 fiscal year, with the final amount pending Senate approval. Earlier this year, the laboratory laid off 114 employees due to new federal directions and budgetary shifts.
Experts view the rebranding as symbolic but concerning. Barry Rabe, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, described it as “part of an effort to marginalize any future role for renewable energy in the United States,” potentially affecting partnerships with states and municipalities. Steve Clemmer, director of energy research at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called it a “huge mistake that will increase energy costs, stifle innovation and economic growth, and make the grid less reliable.” Rabe added that betting on oil, gas, coal, and uranium over renewables backs away from necessary research pursuits.
This renaming follows other Trump administration changes to names of places and institutions, marking the first such rebranding for a scientific entity.
