03.14.19
In fiscal year 2017, the economic impact of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) amounted to more than $1.1 billion nationwide, according to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. The new study estimates NREL’s impact on Colorado’s economy at nearly $748 million.
“NREL’s work in Colorado has far-reaching impact and benefits the country through our award-winning research and advanced energy solutions,” said Martin Keller, NREL director and president of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
The report was funded by the Alliance, which manages and operates NREL for DOE. The study, conducted by Richard Wobbekind and Brian Lewandowski of the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business, found that during FY 2017:
NREL continually seeks to expand its impact by working with academia, as well as the public and private sectors. In FY 2017, NREL had 739 active partnership agreements with 513 partners. During the same fiscal year, NREL signed $80 million in new partnership agreements.
“NREL’s work in Colorado has far-reaching impact and benefits the country through our award-winning research and advanced energy solutions,” said Martin Keller, NREL director and president of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
The report was funded by the Alliance, which manages and operates NREL for DOE. The study, conducted by Richard Wobbekind and Brian Lewandowski of the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business, found that during FY 2017:
- NREL employed 1,745 full-time and part-time employees;
- Approximately 60% of employees were involved in core research and development
- More than 95% of NREL employees hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and nearly 64% have advanced degrees, with 31.7 percent holding doctoral degrees and 31.9% holding master’s degrees.
- NREL employees contributed $478,052 to local nonprofits while logging 1,529 volunteer hours;
- The laboratory welcomed more than 28,000 visitors to its campus and Education Center and connected with more than 43,000 people through community outreach events;
- A significant element of NREL’s impact is tied to jobs, with the greatest number of the laboratory’s employees located in Jefferson County, which saw a $413 million economic impact in FY 2017. The research team notes that more than 95% of NREL’s employees live in the Denver and Boulder metropolitan statistical areas and that the Golden-based research laboratory is a top 10 employer in Jefferson County.
NREL continually seeks to expand its impact by working with academia, as well as the public and private sectors. In FY 2017, NREL had 739 active partnership agreements with 513 partners. During the same fiscal year, NREL signed $80 million in new partnership agreements.
