
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: 42USC5551]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 71--SOLAR ENERGY
 
         SUBCHAPTER II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION
 
Sec. 5551. Congressional declaration of findings and policy

    (a) The Congress hereby finds that--
        (1) the needs of a viable society depend on an ample supply of 
    energy;
        (2) the current imbalance between domestic supply and demand for 
    fuels and energy is likely to persist for some time;
        (3) dependence on nonrenewable energy resources cannot be 
    continued indefinitely, particularly at current rates of 
    consumption;
        (4) it is in the Nation's interest to expedite the long-term 
    development of renewable and nonpolluting energy resources, such as 
    solar energy;
        (5) the various solar energy technologies are today at widely 
    differing stages of development, with some already near the stage of 
    commercial application and others still requiring basic research;
        (6) the early development and export of viable equipment 
    utilizing solar energy, consistent with the established preeminence 
    of the United States in the field of high technology products, can 
    make a valuable contribution to our balance of trade;
        (7) the mass production and use of equipment utilizing solar 
    energy will help to eliminate the dependence of the United States 
    upon foreign energy sources and promote the national defense;
        (8) to date, the national effort in research, development, and 
    demonstration activities relating to the utilization of solar energy 
    has been extremely limited; therefore
        (9) the urgency of the Nation's critical energy shortages and 
    the need to make clean and renewable energy alternatives 
    commercially viable require that the Nation undertake an intensive 
    research, development, and demonstration program with an estimated 
    Federal investment which may reach or exceed $1,000,000,000.

    (b) The Congress declares that it is the policy of the Federal 
Government to--
        (1) pursue a vigorous and viable program of research and 
    resource assessment of solar energy as a major source of energy for 
    our national needs; and
        (2) provide for the development and demonstration of practicable 
    means to employ solar energy on a commercial scale.

(Pub. L. 93-473, Sec. 2, Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1431.)


                               Short Title

    For short title of Pub. L. 93-473, which enacted this subchapter, as 
the ``Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 
1974'', see section 1 of Pub. L. 93-473, set out as a note under section 
5501 of this title.
