
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: 42USC5556]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 71--SOLAR ENERGY
 
         SUBCHAPTER II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION
 
Sec. 5556. Solar energy demonstration facilities program


(a) Authorization for design and construction of facilities; objectives

    The Chairman is authorized to initiate a program to design and 
construct, in specific solar energy technologies (including, but not 
limited to, those listed in section 5555(c) of this title,\1\ facilities 
or powerplants of sufficient size to demonstrate the technical and 
economic feasibility of utilizing the various forms of solar energy. The 
specific goals of such programs shall include--
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be preceded by a closing 
parenthesis.
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        (1) production of electricity from a number of powerplants, on 
    the order of one to ten megawatts each;
        (2) production of synthetic fuels in commercial quantities;
        (3) large-scale utilization of solar energy in the form of 
    direct heat;
        (4) utilization of thermal and all other byproducts of the solar 
    facilities;
        (5) design and development of hybrid systems involving the 
    concomitant utilization of solar and other energy sources; and
        (6) the continuous operation of such plants and facilities for a 
    period of time.

(b) Criteria for determination to proceed from development program to 
        demonstration

    For each of the technologies for which a successful and appropriate 
development program is completed, the Chairman shall make a 
determination to proceed to demonstration based on criteria including, 
but not necessarily limited to, the following:
        (1) the technological feasibility of the project;
        (2) the costs and benefits of the project, as determined by an 
    economic assessment;
        (3) the immediate and the potential uses of the solar energy 
    utilized in the project;
        (4) long-term national need for the technology;
        (5) environmental impact;
        (6) potential for technology transfer to other applications; and
        (7) the nature and extent of Federal participation, if any, in 
    the project.

(c) Establishment of one or more projects utilizing each form of solar 
        energy

    In carrying out his responsibilities under this section, the 
Chairman, acting through the appropriate Federal agencies, may provide 
for the establishment of one or more demonstration projects utilizing 
each form of solar energy, which shall include, as appropriate, the 
specific research, development, pilot plant construction and operation, 
demonstration plant construction and operation, and other facilities and 
activities which may be necessary to show commercial viability of the 
specific solar technology.

(d) Investigation and agreements for cooperative development of 
        demonstration facilities

    The Chairman, acting through the appropriate Federal agencies, is 
authorized to investigate and enter into agreements for the cooperative 
development of facilities to demonstrate solar technologies. The 
responsible Federal agency may consider--
        (1) cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities for 
    construction of facilities and equipment to demonstrate solar energy 
    technologies; and
        (2) cooperative agreements with other Federal agencies for the 
    construction of facilities and equipment and operation of facilities 
    to produce energy for direct Federal utilization.

(e) Construction and operation of demonstration projects without 
        cooperative agreements

    The Chairman, acting through appropriate Federal agencies is 
authorized to construct and operate demonstration projects without 
entering into cooperative agreements with respect to such projects, if 
the Chairman finds that--
        (1) the nature of the resource, the geographical location, the 
    scale and engineering design of the facilities, the techniques of 
    production, or any other significant factor of the specific 
    demonstration project offers opportunities to make important 
    contributions to the general knowledge of solar resources, the 
    techniques of its development, or public confidence in the 
    technology; and
        (2) there is no opportunity for cooperative agreements with any 
    non-Federal entity willing and able to cooperate in the 
    demonstration project under subsection (d)(1) of this section, and 
    there is no opportunity for cooperative agreements with other 
    Federal agencies under subsection (d)(2) of this section.

(f) Additional appropriations for projects exceeding maximum amount

    If the estimate of the Federal investment with respect to 
construction and operation costs of any demonstration project proposed 
to be established under this section exceeds $20,000,000, no amount may 
be appropriated for such project except as specifically authorized by 
legislation hereafter enacted by the Congress.

(g) Disposition of Federal property interests, electricity, synthetic 
        fuels, and other byproducts upon completion of project

    (1) At the conclusion of any demonstration project established under 
this section, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, the 
responsible Federal agencies shall, by sale, lease, or otherwise, 
dispose of all Federal property interests which they have acquired 
pursuant to this section in accordance with existing law and the terms 
of the cooperative agreements involved.
    (2) The agency involved shall, under appropriate agreements or other 
arrangements, provide for the disposition of electricity, synthetic 
fuels, and other byproducts of the project administered by such agency.

(Pub. L. 93-473, Sec. 7, Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1434.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 5557, 5566 of this title.
