In response to Executive Order 13653, Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, the U.S. Department of Energy is evaluating options for improving resiliency to climate change at its sites, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. To better understand and prepare for the potential effects of climate change, NREL established a Climate Change Resiliency and Preparedness (CCRP) pilot project.

Abt Associates assisted NREL in the implementation of this pilot project. In the first stage of the project, Abt conducted an assessment of the vulnerabilities of NREL’s site, facilities, operations, and mission activities to changes in climate. This assessment accounted for vulnerabilities associated with several key resources, including water and energy consumption.

Based on this vulnerability assessment, Abt assisted NREL staff in conducting a resiliency action planning exercise to identify and evaluate potential actions to reduce the laboratory’s key vulnerabilities. The exercise was structured using a risk management approach. It involved a range of research and analytical activities, such as coordinating literature reviews, engaging a steering committee of NREL management-level staff, conducting one-on-one interviews and workshops with NREL operations-level staff, and completing targeted scientific assessments to inform NREL’s priority objectives and vulnerabilities.

The activities and outputs of this project will help inform resilience efforts at NREL and potentially the climate resiliency planning efforts at DOE and other U.S. government agency sites.

Read more about Abt’s work for the NREL:

A Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory  

A Resiliency Action Plan for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory