Published date: 03/19/2026
Frederick Pfaeffle is an experienced energy and environmental attorney currently serving as President and CEO of EPS LLC Energy Partners Solutions (EPS). EPS specializes in providing expert legal and advisory services for energy projects, including assisting with domestic supply chain and energy tax credit requirements and challenges.
Mr. Pfaeffle previously served as Senior Legal Advisor at the United States Department of Energy (DOE). His portfolio included advising the Secretary of Energy and DOE senior leadership on energy policy, including implementing over $170 billion in funding for grants and loans through funding made available by BIL and IRA.
Recent changes at the United States Department of Energy (DOE) are reflective of the times.
Renaming of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
The U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 National Laboratories spread across the Country constitute the federal government’s premier science, technology, and engineering system. Their role is to advance research, develop next-generation energy and security technologies, and provide technical expertise that supports national policy. Among other achievements, these labs conduct breakthrough scientific work in physics, materials, biology, and computing, operate world-class user facilities, and steward many of the nation’s fastest supercomputers.
No one particular lab is deemed most important in all areas. The National Laboratories drive U.S. energy innovation across renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon management, and grid modernization, while also supporting national security missions—including maintaining the nuclear deterrent, advancing nonproliferation, and strengthening cybersecurity. The labs contribute to critical-minerals and manufacturing supply-chain resilience, aid environmental cleanup of nuclear legacy sites, and provide analytical support to federal and state agencies. They also train the future STEM workforce. Taken together, the national lab system is a central asset for U.S. scientific leadership, energy security, and economic competitiveness in many different areas.
Although some would argue that the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee is DOE’s flagship energy-technology lab with the broadest energy R&D portfolio in the lab system, what has been known as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for almost half a century, located in Colorado, is the DOE’s primary and most influential national laboratory for the development, advancement, and commercialization of renewable energy technologies.
The 1970s energy crises (1973 oil embargo, 1979 energy crisis) highlighted U.S. dependence on imported oil and the vulnerability of the U.S. energy system. NREL was part of Congress’ and the federal government’s then attempt to accelerate research into alternative and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and conservation technologies by consolidating renewable-energy research in one dedicated lab. NREL aimed to develop energy technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydrogen, promote energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry, and serve as a national hub for research, demonstration, and commercialization of clean-energy.
On December 1, 2025, DOE officially renamed NREL to National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The change was “effective immediately,” meaning that as of December 1 the new name applies to all public communications and official correspondence. According to DOE, the NLR name better reflects what is described as a broader applied energy mission. DOE states on its website:
‘The energy crisis we face today is unlike the crisis that gave rise to NREL,’ said Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. ‘We are no longer picking and choosing energy sources. Our highest priority is to invest in the scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, drive down costs, and help this country meet its soaring energy demand. The National Lab of the Rockies will play a vital role in those efforts.’
DOE thus suggests that the old name — with “Renewable Energy” in its title — implied a narrower focus; the renaming is meant to signal a shift toward a more inclusive energy-research mandate (which could include fossil-fuels, nuclear, minerals, etc.).
It seems therefore NLR may increasingly take on a broader “all-energy” research agenda, not just renewables. That could include work on fossil fuels, energy system resilience, critical materials (e.g. for batteries, energy infrastructure), energy-security, low-cost energy supply, and possibly nuclear or other non-renewable sources — depending on DOE priorities. Renewable-energy research (solar, wind, efficiency, hydrogen, etc.) may still continue — especially where there is funding from Congress — but it may share more focus with other energy research areas rather than being the sole or dominant mission. The rebranding may affect public perception, staff morale, and funding flows, especially among stakeholders who associate the lab strongly with clean energy.
DOE’s Restructuring: A Shift in U.S. Energy Policy
With much broader implications but consistent with the theme driving NREL’ name change to NLR, DOE had already announced a significant reorganization on November 20 right before the Thanksgiving break. The changes mark a shift attempting to align the DOE with the current administration’s “American energy dominance” agenda.
This realignment involves the consolidation, elimination, and renaming of key offices as well as the creation of new ones. The effort refocuses priorities away from clean energy deployment and toward fossil fuels, nuclear power, and critical minerals.
Several offices established under the previous administration to manage clean energy and infrastructure funding were either eliminated or consolidated. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), the Grid Deployment Office (GDO), and the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) were folded into other offices.
The Office of Electricity absorbed most of the grant and technical assistance portfolio previously managed by the GDO. OE is now responsible for providing expertise to states, tribes, and territories on grid resilience planning and deployment efforts and will continue its pre-existing mission to spearhead research and development to strengthen and modernize the power grid.
The Grid Deployment Office functions have been primarily split and absorbed by two other offices under the Under Secretary for Energy (S3): the Office of Electricity (OE) and the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF).
New Office of Energy Dominance Financing
The Loan Programs Office (LPO) was rebranded as the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF). This office took over the GDO’s financing mechanism for transmission projects. The EDF’s focus has been shifted to prioritize financing for projects deemed critical to “American energy dominance,” which includes nuclear, fossil, and specific grid projects. Also, a key program now under EDF includes the Transmission Facilitation Program, which provides federal support to help finance and build high-capacity electric transmission lines.
New Office of Critical Minerals and Materials (CMEI)
Much of the consolidated work is also moving into the newly created Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). This move strongly signals a prioritization of critical minerals supply chains—essential for everything from batteries to defense technology—and a potential de-emphasis on the large-scale deployment programs previously managed by the eliminated offices. While not its primary function, the GDO’s work on grid component supply chains—particularly those related to transformers and other critical hardware—is also being folded into CMEI.
New Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
There is also a new focus on hydrocarbons and geothermal. The former Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has been replaced by the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). This new office merges most of the previous fossil energy work with the Geothermal Technologies Office (which was previously under EERE). This co-location aims to leverage technical and operational overlaps, particularly in subterranean resource management.
New Office of Fusion and Office of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum
Under the Under Secretary for Science, the DOE created new offices that reflect emerging technological focus areas and new technology and science priorities.
For the first time, a dedicated office has been established for fusion energy research, discovery, and commercialization, a move that the industry has long advocated for. The new Office of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum (AI & Quantum) is tasked with leading and coordinating the department’s work in advanced computing, AI, and quantum technologies, aligning with the administration’s new Genesis Mission to use AI to accelerate scientific discovery.
Take-Aways
In sum, the new structure signals a clear pivot in federal energy policy, placing a higher emphasis on traditional energy sources and next-generation scientific breakthroughs (like fusion and AI) while reducing the infrastructure for large-scale federal deployment of established clean energy technologies.
Energy Partners Solutions specializes in providing expert legal and advisory services, training and guidance to optimize federal and state compliance for energy infrastructure and related projects and products.
EPS expertise includes: BABA Customized compliance plans with guidance and training for Build America Buy America Act (BABA); Support for federal agency engagement, BABA waivers and risk management; Supplier sourcing strategies to include verification; IRA Tax Credits Domestic Content Adder, Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) and Apprenticeship requirements; and Legal Services Regulatory analysis and representation to ensure energy policies align with legal framework and industry standards.
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