The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
Established in 1974 , NREL began operating in 1977 as the Solar Energy Research Institute. Under the Carter administration, it was the recipient of a rather large budget and its activities went beyond research and develo...
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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
Established in 1974 , NREL began operating in 1977 as the Solar Energy Research Institute. Under the Carter administration, it was the recipient of a rather large budget and its activities went beyond research and development in solar energy as it tried to popularize knowledge about already existing technologies, like passive solar amongst the population. In the Reagan years that followed the budget was cut by some 90%, many people 'reduced in force' and the activities reduced to R&D.; In later years renewed interest in the energy problem improved the institute's position. But funding has fluctuated. In 2006 its funding had dropped to the point it was forced to lay off 32 workers . It was designated a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE...
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