[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1227-E1228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MARKING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY 
                               LABORATORY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the National 
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), based in Golden, Colorado, on the 
occasion of its 25th anniversary. As the Department of Energy's premier 
laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and 
development, NREL has played a critical role in advancing our knowledge 
and technical ability to integrate power from renewable resources into 
our nation's energy supply.
  On July 5, 1977, NREL opened its doors. Created as the Solar Energy 
Research Institute, it began its work during an energy crisis, with a 
mission to make renewable energy a viable national energy option.
  NREL has succeeded in its mission, and it continues to make 
remarkable strides. For a modest investment in renewable energy 
research and development over the last two decades, the price of wind 
energy has dropped from 30 cents/kWh to between 4-6 cents/kWh, mostly 
due to past research at NREL. Photovoltaic modules have lowered their 
cost by nearly a factor of ten, while the cost of solar systems has 
been reduced by 50 percent in the last decade. Biomass ethanol has 
decreased its cost per gallon from roughly $4.00 fifteen years ago to 
$1.20 today due to research at this laboratory. Commitment to 
cooperative research and development with laboratories, universities, 
and the private sector has led to ground-breaking technology 
improvements that are now beginning to make their way into the market 
in nearly all renewable energy technologies.
  NREL's work has earned it many awards over the last 25 years. Among 
them are 31 R&D 100 awards, the most per researcher of any Department 
of Energy laboratory.
  But NREL does more than good research. I have always been 
particularly impressed by NREL's dedication to its community in 
Colorado. A good example of this dedication: As a way of celebrating 
the laboratory's anniversary, NREL's employees chose to build an 
energy-efficient home for Habitat for Humanity. NREL's managing 
partners are funding the project, and NREL employees and their

[[Page E1228]]

friends and families will contribute 3,000 volunteer hours to build the 
house.
  So NREL has a great deal to celebrate on this anniversary. As NREL 
Director Richard Truly remarked earlier this year, the goal of the 
anniversary activities is not only to call attention to NREL's great 
achievements, but also to recognize NREL's 1,000-plus employees, to 
remind stakeholders how NREL's efforts helped them achieve success, and 
to announce that there will be much more to come from NREL in the next 
25 years.
  And there must be much more to come. With total world energy use 
expected to double by the year 2025 and quadruple by 2100, it is clear 
that NREL has an increasingly important role to play in transforming 
the way we think about and use energy.
  As co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in 
the House, I have consistently supported NREL's vision for a 
sustainable energy future. I look forward to sharing in NREL's future 
successes.

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