NREL Energy Data MCP Server for Cursor 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.
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{
"mcpServers": {
"nrel-energy-data": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About NREL Energy Data MCP Server
Connect to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) API through your AI agent and explore a vast archive of sustainable energy data and analysis tools using natural conversation.
Cursor's Agent mode turns NREL Energy Data into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from NREL Energy Data and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 10 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.
What you can do
- Alternative Fuels — List and locate alternative fuel stations (Electric, Hydrogen, E85) globally, or find the nearest one to any address.
- Solar Production — Run PVWatts® estimates to calculate the potential energy production of photovoltaic systems based on specific system configurations.
- Resource Intelligence — Access detailed solar radiation data (GHI, DNI) and check geothermal resource potential for any coordinate.
- Utility Oversight — Retrieve residential and industrial electricity rates and identify which utility companies serve a specific area.
- Incentives & Laws — Browse federal and state laws and incentives for alternative fuels and energy-efficient vehicles.
- Deep Inspection — Fetch complete metadata and station details using their unique IDs.
The NREL Energy Data MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect NREL Energy Data to Cursor via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the NREL Energy Data MCP Server with Cursor.
Open MCP Settings
Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens
Save the file
Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server
Start using NREL Energy Data
Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using NREL Energy Data, help me...". 10 tools available
Why Use Cursor with the NREL Energy Data MCP Server
Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with NREL Energy Data through the Model Context Protocol.
Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context
Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards
MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment
VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools
NREL Energy Data + Cursor Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the NREL Energy Data MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP
Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically
Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates
Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data
NREL Energy Data MCP Tools for Cursor (10)
These 10 tools become available when you connect NREL Energy Data to Cursor via MCP:
get_geothermal_resource
Check geothermal resource potential
get_nearest_stations
Find nearest fuel stations
get_pvwatts_estimates
Estimate solar energy production
get_solar_data_query
Check solar dataset availability
get_solar_resource
Get solar radiation data
get_station_details
Get specific station details
get_utility_companies
Identify local utility companies
get_utility_rates
Get average electricity rates
list_alt_fuel_stations
) in the database. List all alternative fuel stations
list_transportation_incentives
List alternative fuel incentives
Example Prompts for NREL Energy Data in Cursor
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with NREL Energy Data immediately.
"Find all electric vehicle charging stations in Asheville, NC."
"Estimate solar energy production for a 5kW system at latitude 35.6, longitude -82.5."
"What are the average electricity rates for residential buildings in zip code 28801?"
Troubleshooting NREL Energy Data MCP Server with Cursor
Common issues when connecting NREL Energy Data to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Tools not appearing in Cursor
Server shows as disconnected
NREL Energy Data + Cursor FAQ
Common questions about integrating NREL Energy Data MCP Server with Cursor.
What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?
Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?
mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?
How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?
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Connect NREL Energy Data to Cursor
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 10 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.