Bold shift, major implications: the Trump administration has removed the words “renewable” and “energy” from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s official title, signaling a broader push away from clean energy in favor of other energy sources.
On Monday, the Energy Department announced a name change, rebranding the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as the National Laboratory of the Rockies. The change is effective immediately and will be reflected across all official communications and correspondence.
Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson framed the move in terms of an evolving energy crisis, noting that the current challenge differs from the 1973 oil crisis. The administration has argued that energy policy should not selectively privilege any single source and should prioritize investments in scientific capabilities that can revive American manufacturing, lower costs, and meet rising energy demand. The newly named laboratory is envisioned as a central player in advancing these goals.
This shift comes after a January executive order from President Trump aimed at reducing energy costs by cutting what he describes as burdensome, ideologically driven regulations. The order also signals a pivot back toward fossil fuels as a primary power source, contrasting with the Biden administration’s emphasis on renewables.
In May, the Department of Energy reportedly laid off at least 114 workers at the laboratory, according to Colorado Public Radio, signaling broader organizational and policy changes within the department.
Background: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, located in Golden, Colorado, has historically focused on securing rare earth minerals, improving energy storage, and advancing efficiency and integration across energy systems and sustainable transportation. The institute’s original name was the Solar Energy Research Institution, a change made in 1991 during the administration of George H. W. Bush amid regional tensions involving energy supply.
Laboratory Director Jud Virden defended the new branding, saying it reflects a broader applied energy mission entrusted by the Department of Energy to deliver a more affordable and secure energy future for all. The change, however, has sparked disagreement among some groups who argue that renewable resources remain the cheapest and most cost-effective option in Colorado and that changing the name does little to alter market realities.
Critics, including Earthjustice’s Michael Hiatt, contend that the administration’s energy agenda risks keeping uneconomical coal and gas plants running, potentially raising costs and reducing energy affordability for many Americans.
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