$193M for Energy Research: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

GOLDEN, Colo. April 29, 2009; The AP reporteds that the primary U.S. lab for renewable energy will receive $110 million in federal stimulus money and another $83 million will go toward wind energy efficiency and other alternative power projects.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu made the announcement Wednesday while touring the National Renewable Energy Laboratory outside Denver.

The money for NREL, in Golden, includes $68 million for an energy-efficient office building, $19.2 million for solar, geothermal fuel cells to produce electricity for NREL and $13.5 million for upgrades to its biorefinery research facility.

President Barack Obama has emphasized renewable energy and energy efficiency as ways to improve the economy, protect the environment and increase national security by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources.