Key Takeaways

• The National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) is cutting 134 jobs due to federal funding reductions.
• The layoffs affect both research and operations staff, aligning with updated budgets and Department of Energy priorities.
• Local lawmakers express concern over the impact on renewable energy research and community livelihoods, attributing the cuts to the Trump administration’s policies.

Job Cuts at National Laboratory of the Rockies

The National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, Colorado, which was previously known as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has announced a significant reduction in its workforce, laying off 134 employees. This decision comes as part of broader federal funding cuts that have affected various sectors.

An NLR spokesperson cited the need to adjust to “existing and projected funding levels and alignment with DOE priorities” as the driving force behind the layoffs, which include staff from both research and operations departments.

Local elected officials, including Democratic U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen and Senator John Hickenlooper, have criticized the job cuts and linked them to the policies of the Trump administration. Pettersen stated that these layoffs jeopardize the livelihoods of individuals dedicated to making energy more affordable and advancing critical climate research. “These are people who work to make energy more affordable, conduct groundbreaking climate research, and keep our state up and running,” she asserted.

Pettersen further emphasized the social impact, noting that the affected workers are not only talented professionals but also neighbors with families relying on their incomes. She expressed concern that the political agenda is reversing progress made in combating climate change and could adversely affect the economy.

Hickenlooper echoed these sentiments, describing the elimination of jobs at the renewable energy lab as a dismantling of vital scientific efforts. He warned that this could have serious implications for innovation in the energy sector and ultimately result in increased costs for consumers. “No question, the Trump administration is dismantling Golden’s renewable energy lab and hollowing out our energy industry,” he stated on social media.

This round of layoffs follows an earlier workforce reduction in May when NREL cut 114 jobs, attributing the decision to stop work orders from federal agencies, new directives, and shifts in budgetary priorities. The overall circumstances leading to these cuts have created a challenging financial environment for the lab.

In December, the U.S. Department of Energy renamed the laboratory to better reflect ongoing energy priorities under the Trump administration, a change that has been viewed with skepticism by many in the local community who see it as a move away from supporting renewable energy initiatives.

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