National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Environment, Safety, Health & Quality
Environmental Protection
Credit: Steve Wilcox
Protecting the environment is at the heart of NREL's mission to develop new renewable energy technologies. Workers have a responsibility to incorporate the principles of environmental stewardship and sustainability in their work activities. When planning activities and performing daily tasks, our staff considers the potential impacts to the environment:
- The amount and type of wastes generated and reduced,
- The potential release of contaminants to air, land, or water, and
- The effect activities might have on NREL's wildlife, vegetation, and other natural resources. Links to our most recent wildlife and vegetation surveys are below.
NREL's Environmental Management System integrates the components of environmental protection into the laboratory's management processes and activities. The laboratory's Sustainable NREL program works wth NREL's Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality Office to address NREL's environmental footprint — all areas of potential environmental impact.
South Table Mountain and National Wind Technology Center Sites Support Native Plants and Animals
NREL's two major sites, South Table Mountain and the National Wind Technology Center, are largely undeveloped, allowing for the preservation of habitats that support numerous species of native plants and animals. Our policy is to foster and maintain healthy and vigorous natural ecosystems in the undeveloped areas, as well as in areas adjacent to research facilities and activities.
Workers are encouraged to enjoy NREL's natural resources, but to do so with respect, minimizing impacts on soils and vegetation, and ensuring that wildlife is not harassed or harmed.
Environmental Reports
More information about NREL's environmental protection efforts is available in NREL's Annual Environmental Performance Report 2007 (PDF 3.2 MB) and these site-specific documents. In addition to this PDF, the following documents are also available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
South Table Mountain
- South Table Mountain Three Site Development Projects Environmental Assessment 2007 (PDF 3.7 MB)
- South Table Mountain Wildlife Survey 2005 (PDF 7.5 MB)
- South Table Mountain Environmental Assessment 2003 (PDF 13.6 MB)
- South Table Mountain Supplemental Environmental Assessment 2008 (PDF 5.2 MB)
- South Table Mountain Vegetation Survey 2002 (PDF 296 KB)
National Wind Technology Center
- National Wind Technology Center Bird & Bat Report 2003 (PDF 930 KB)
- National Wind Technology Center Environmental Assessment 2002 (PDF 7.5 MB)
- National Wind Technology Center Vegetation Survey 2000 (PDF 779 KB)