
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC13458]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 134--ENERGY POLICY
 
                  SUBCHAPTER IX--ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
 
                   Part A--Improved Energy Efficiency
 
Sec. 13458. Energy efficient lighting and building centers


(a) Purpose

    The purpose of this section is to encourage energy efficiency in 
buildings through the establishment of regional centers to promote 
energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling, and building design.

(b) Grants for establishment

    Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall 
make grants to nonprofit institutions, or to consortiums that may 
include nonprofit institutions, State and local governments, 
universities, and utilities, to establish or enhance one regional 
building energy efficiency center (hereafter in this section referred to 
as a ``regional center'') in each of the 10 regions served by a 
Department of Energy regional support office.

(c) Permitted activities

    Each regional center established under this section may--
        (1) provide information, training, and technical assistance to 
    building professionals such as architects, designers, engineers, 
    contractors, and building code officials, on building energy 
    efficiency methods and technologies, including lighting, heating and 
    cooling, and passive solar;
        (2) operate an outreach program to inform such building 
    professionals of the benefits and opportunities of energy 
    efficiency, and of the services of the center;
        (3) provide displays demonstrating building energy efficiency 
    methods and technologies, such as lighting, windows, and heating and 
    cooling equipment;
        (4) coordinate its activities and programs with other 
    institutions within the region, such as State and local governments, 
    utilities, and educational institutions, in order to support their 
    efforts to promote building energy efficiency;
        (5) serve as a clearinghouse to ensure that information about 
    new building energy efficiency technologies, including case studies 
    of successful applications, is disseminated to end-users in the 
    region;
        (6) study the building energy needs of the region and make 
    available region-specific energy efficiency information to 
    facilitate the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency 
    improvements;
        (7) assist educational institutions in establishing building 
    energy efficiency engineering and technical programs and curricula; 
    and
        (8) evaluate the performance of the center in promoting building 
    energy efficiency.

(d) Application

    Any nonprofit institution or consortium interested in receiving a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application in 
such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
A lighting or building energy center in existence on October 24, 1992, 
which is owned and operated by a nonprofit institution or a consortium 
as described in subsection (b) of this section shall be eligible for a 
grant under this section.

(e) Selection criteria

    The Secretary shall select recipients of grants under this section 
on the basis of the following criteria:
        (1) The capability of the grant recipient to establish a board 
    of directors for the regional center composed of representatives 
    from utilities, State and local governments, building trade and 
    professional organizations, manufacturers, and nonprofit energy and 
    environmental organizations.
        (2) The demonstrated or potential resources available to the 
    grant recipient for carrying out this subsection.
        (3) The demonstrated or potential ability of the grant recipient 
    to promote building energy efficiency by carrying out the activities 
    specified in subsection (c) of this section.
        (4) The activities which the grant recipient proposes to carry 
    out under the grant.

(f) Requirement of matching funds

                          (1) Federal share

        The Federal share of a grant under this section shall be no more 
    than 50 percent of the costs of establishing, and no more than 25 
    percent of the cost of operating the regional center.

                    (2) Non-Federal contributions

        No grant may be made under this section in any fiscal year 
    unless the recipient of such grant enters into such agreements with 
    the Secretary as the Secretary may require to ensure that such 
    recipient will provide the necessary non-Federal contributions. Such 
    non-Federal contributions may be provided by utilities, State and 
    local governments, nonprofit institutions, foundations, 
    corporations, and other non-Federal entities.

(g) Task force

    The Secretary shall establish a task force to--
        (1) advise the Secretary on activities to be carried out by 
    grant recipients;
        (2) review and evaluate programs carried out by grant 
    recipients; and
        (3) make recommendations regarding the building energy 
    efficiency center grant program.

(h) Membership terms and administration of task force

                           (1) In general

        The task force shall be composed of approximately 20 members, 
    appointed by the Secretary, with expertise in the area of building 
    energy efficiency, including representatives from--
            (A) State or local energy offices;
            (B) utilities;
            (C) building construction trade or professional 
        associations;
            (D) architecture, engineering or professional associations;
            (E) building component or equipment manufacturers;
            (F) from \1\ national laboratories;
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    \1\ So in original. The word ``from'' probably should not appear.
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            (G) building code officials or professional associations; 
        and
            (H) nonprofit energy or environmental organizations.

                    (2) Geographic representation

        The Secretary shall ensure that there is broad geographical 
    representation among task force members.

                              (3) Terms

        Members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. A vacancy in 
    the task force shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
    appointment was made.

                               (4) Pay

        Members shall serve without pay. Each member shall receive 
    travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
    accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5.

                           (5) Chairperson

        The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the task force shall be 
    elected by the members.

                            (6) Meetings

        The task force shall meet biannually and at the call of the 
    Chairperson.

               (7) Inapplicability of termination date

        Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply 
    to the task force.

(i) Report

    The Secretary shall transmit annually to the Congress a report on 
the activities of regional centers established under this section, 
including the degree to which matching funds are being leveraged from 
private sources to establish and operate such centers.

(j) Authorization of appropriations

    There is authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying out 
this section, to remain available until expended, not more than 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996.

(Pub. L. 102-486, title I, Sec. 103, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2789.)

                       References in Text

    Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in 
subsec. (h)(7), is section 14 of Pub. L. 92-463, which is set out in the 
Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of title I of the Energy Policy Act, and 
not as part of title XXI of that Act which comprises this subchapter.
