
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: 42USC5510]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 71--SOLAR ENERGY
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--HEATING AND COOLING
 
Sec. 5510. Dissemination of information to promote practical use 
        of solar heating and cooling technologies
        

(a) Coordination by Secretary with other Federal agencies in 
        dissemination to Federal, State, and local authorities, etc.

    The Secretary shall take all possible steps to assure that full and 
complete information with respect to the demonstrations and other 
activities conducted under this subchapter is made available to Federal, 
State, and local authorities, the building industry and related segments 
of the economy, the scientific and technical community, and the public 
at large, both during and after the close of the programs under this 
subchapter, with the objective of promoting and facilitating to the 
maximum extent feasible the early and widespread practical use of solar 
energy for the heating and cooling of buildings throughout the United 
States. In accordance with regulations prescribed under section 5514 of 
this title such information shall be disseminated on a coordinated basis 
by the Secretary, the Administrator, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of Energy, the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other appropriate 
Federal offices and agencies.

(b) Studies, investigations and modifications of building codes, zoning 
        ordinances, etc., to promote use of solar energy in buildings

    In addition, the Secretary shall--
        (1) study and investigate the effect of building codes, zoning 
    ordinances, tax regulations, and other laws, codes, ordinances, and 
    practices upon the practical use of solar energy for the heating and 
    cooling of buildings;
        (2) determine the extent to which such laws, codes, ordinances, 
    and practices should be changed to permit or facilitate such use, 
    and the methods by which any such changes may best be brought about; 
    and
        (3) study the necessity of a program of incentives to accelerate 
    the commercial application of solar heating and cooling technology.

(c) Establishment and operation of Solar Heating and Cooling Information 
        Data Bank; retrieval and dissemination services; compilation of 
        information for use by governmental agencies, nonprofit 
        organizations and private persons; utilization of existing 
        information

    (1) In carrying out his functions under subsections (a) and (b) of 
this section the Secretary, utilizing the capabilities of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Commerce, and 
the Secretary of Energy to the maximum extent possible, shall establish 
and operate a Solar Heating and Cooling Information Data Bank 
(hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ``bank'') for the 
purpose of collecting, reviewing, processing, and disseminating solar 
heating and cooling information and data in a timely and accurate manner 
in support of the objectives of this subchapter.
    (2) Information and data compiled in the bank shall include--
        (A) technical information (including reports, journal articles, 
    dissertions,\1\ monographs, and project descriptions) on solar 
    energy research, development, and applications;
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``dissertations,''.
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        (B) technical information on the design, construction, and 
    maintenance of buildings compatible with solar heating and cooling 
    concepts;
        (C) physical and chemical properties of the materials required 
    for solar heating and cooling;
        (D) climatic conditions in appropriate areas of the United 
    States, including those areas where the demonstrations are to be 
    located; and
        (E) engineering performance of devices utilized in solar heating 
    and cooling or to be employed in the demonstrations.

    (3) In accordance with regulations prescribed under section 5514 of 
this title, the Secretary shall provide retrieval and dissemination 
services to cover the solar heating and cooling information described 
under paragraph (2) for--
        (A) Federal, State, and local government organizations that are 
    active in the area of energy resources (and their contractors);
        (B) universities, colleges, and other nonprofit organizations; 
    and
        (C) private persons, upon request, in appropriate cases.

    (4) In carrying out his functions under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall utilize, when feasible, the existing data base of 
scientific and technical information in Federal agencies, adding to such 
data base any information described in paragraph (2) which does not 
already reside in such base.

(d) Annual reports to President and Congress by officers and agencies; 
        contents; special annual report by Secretary

    Each Federal officer and agency having functions under this 
subchapter shall include in his or its annual report to the President 
and the Congress a full and complete description of his or its 
activities (current and projected) under this subchapter, along with his 
or its recommendations for legislative, administrative, or other action 
to improve the programs under this subchapter or to achieve the 
objectives of this subchapter more promptly and effectively. In 
addition, the Secretary shall submit annually to the President and the 
Congress a special report summarizing in appropriate detail all of the 
activities (current and projected) of the various Federal officers and 
agencies having functions under this subchapter, with the objective of 
presenting a comprehensive overall view of such programs.

(Pub. L. 93-409, Sec. 12, Sept. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1075; Pub. L. 93-438, 
title I, Sec. 104(f), title III, Sec. 301(h), Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 
1238, 1250; Pub. L. 95-91, title III, Sec. 301(a), title VII, Secs. 703, 
707, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577, 606, 607; Pub. L. 100-418, title V, 
Sec. 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, 
Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4732(b)(21)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 
1536, 1501A-585.)


                               Amendments

    1999--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ``Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office'' for ``Commissioner of the Patent Office''.
    1988--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-418 substituted ``National Institute 
of Standards and Technology'' for ``National Bureau of Standards''.


                    Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 106-113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, 
see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out 
as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

                          Transfer of Functions

    ``Secretary of Energy'' substituted for ``Director'', meaning 
Director of National Science Foundation, in subsec. (a) and for 
``National Science Foundation'' in subsec. (c) pursuant to sections 
104(f) and 301(h) of Pub. L. 93-438, which are classified to sections 
5814(f) and 5871(h) of this title and which transferred functions of 
National Science Foundation relating to or utilized in connection with 
solar heating and cooling development to Administrator of Energy 
Research and Development Administration, and pursuant to sections 
301(a), 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95-91, which are classified to sections 
7151(a), 7293, and 7297 of this title and which terminated Energy 
Research and Development Administration and transferred its functions 
and functions of Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to 
Secretary of Energy.
