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News Release: NREL Recognizes Solar Pioneer with National Honor

December 21, 2004

Golden, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) today took the first steps toward establishing a joint research institute, one of an anticipated series of partnerships between the two leading organizations for energy research.

NREL Director Richard Truly and CSM President John Trefny signed a Memorandum of Understanding, paving the way for a number of planned collaborative efforts, today at ceremony and reception on CSM's campus in Golden.

CSM and NREL have a history of working together on energy issues of concern to each, and the new agreement envisions a more formal, ongoing relationship, especially in three key areas:

  • Strategic initiatives for fuel cells, materials science and related research;
  • Programs for graduate education and business development;
  • Sharing staff and managing intellectual property, including jointly developed patents.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy research and development and a leading laboratory for energy efficiency R&D. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.

Colorado School of Mines is a public research university internationally recognized for its leadership in engineering, applied science and related disciplines, with a special emphasis on the Earth and its resources. The school is the oldest public institution of higher learning to open its doors in Colorado and currently enrolls approximately 3,600 students.

—Sarah Barba

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