
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC7112]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 84--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 
           SUBCHAPTER I--DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSES
 
Sec. 7112. Congressional declaration of purpose

    The Congress therefore declares that the establishment of a 
Department of Energy is in the public interest and will promote the 
general welfare by assuring coordinated and effective administration of 
Federal energy policy and programs. It is the purpose of this chapter:
        (1) To establish a Department of Energy in the executive branch.
        (2) To achieve, through the Department, effective management of 
    energy functions of the Federal Government, including consultation 
    with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies in order to 
    encourage them to establish and observe policies consistent with a 
    coordinated energy policy, and to promote maximum possible energy 
    conservation measures in connection with the activities within their 
    respective jurisdictions.
        (3) To provide for a mechanism through which a coordinated 
    national energy policy can be formulated and implemented to deal 
    with the short-, mid- and long-term energy problems of the Nation; 
    and to develop plans and programs for dealing with domestic energy 
    production and import shortages.
        (4) To create and implement a comprehensive energy conservation 
    strategy that will receive the highest priority in the national 
    energy program.
        (5) To carry out the planning, coordination, support, and 
    management of a balanced and comprehensive energy research and 
    development program, including--
            (A) assessing the requirements for energy research and 
        development;
            (B) developing priorities necessary to meet those 
        requirements;
            (C) undertaking programs for the optimal development of the 
        various forms of energy production and conservation; and
            (D) disseminating information resulting from such programs, 
        including disseminating information on the commercial 
        feasibility and use of energy from fossil, nuclear, solar, 
        geothermal, and other energy technologies.

        (6) To place major emphasis on the development and commercial 
    use of solar, geothermal, recycling and other technologies utilizing 
    renewable energy resources.
        (7) To continue and improve the effectiveness and objectivity of 
    a central energy data collection and analysis program within the 
    Department.
        (8) To facilitate establishment of an effective strategy for 
    distributing and allocating fuels in periods of short supply and to 
    provide for the administration of a national energy supply reserve.
        (9) To promote the interests of consumers through the provision 
    of an adequate and reliable supply of energy at the lowest 
    reasonable cost.
        (10) To establish and implement through the Department, in 
    coordination with the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Defense, 
    policies regarding international energy issues that have a direct 
    impact on research, development, utilization, supply, and 
    conservation of energy in the United States and to undertake 
    activities involving the integration of domestic and foreign policy 
    relating to energy, including provision of independent technical 
    advice to the President on international negotiations involving 
    energy resources, energy technologies, or nuclear weapons issues, 
    except that the Secretary of State shall continue to exercise 
    primary authority for the conduct of foreign policy relating to 
    energy and nuclear nonproliferation, pursuant to policy guidelines 
    established by the President.
        (11) To provide for the cooperation of Federal, State, and local 
    governments in the development and implementation of national energy 
    policies and programs.
        (12) To foster and assure competition among parties engaged in 
    the supply of energy and fuels.
        (13) To assure incorporation of national environmental 
    protection goals in the formulation and implementation of energy 
    programs, and to advance the goals of restoring, protecting, and 
    enhancing environmental quality, and assuring public health and 
    safety.
        (14) To assure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the 
    productive capacity of private enterprise shall be utilized in the 
    development and achievement of the policies and purposes of this 
    chapter.
        (15) To provide for, encourage, and assist public participation 
    in the development and enforcement of national energy programs.
        (16) To create an awareness of, and responsibility for, the fuel 
    and energy needs of rural and urban residents as such needs pertain 
    to home heating and cooling, transportation, agricultural 
    production, electrical generation, conservation, and research and 
    development.
        (17) To foster insofar as possible the continued good health of 
    the Nation's small business firms, public utility districts, 
    municipal utilities, and private cooperatives involved in energy 
    production, transportation, research, development, demonstration, 
    marketing, and merchandising.
        (18) To provide for the administration of the functions of the 
    Energy Research and Development Administration related to nuclear 
    weapons and national security which are transferred to the 
    Department by this chapter.
        (19) To ensure that the Department can continue current support 
    of mathematics, science, and engineering education programs by using 
    the personnel, facilities, equipment, and resources of its 
    laboratories and by working with State and local education agencies, 
    institutions of higher education, and business and industry. The 
    Department's involvement in mathematics, science, and engineering 
    education should be consistent with its main mission and should be 
    coordinated with all Federal efforts in mathematics, science, and 
    engineering education, especially with the Department of Education 
    and the National Science Foundation (which have the primary Federal 
    responsibility for mathematics, science, and engineering education).

(Pub. L. 95-91, title I, Sec. 102, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 567; Pub. L. 
101-510, div. C, title XXXI, Sec. 3163, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1841.)


                               Amendments

    1990--Pub. L. 101-510 substituted ``chapter:'' for ``chapter--'' in 
introductory provisions, capitalized the first letter of the first word 
in each of pars. (1) to (18), substituted a period for last semicolon in 
each of pars. (1) to (17), struck out ``and'' at end of par. (17), and 
added par. (19).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 7133 of this title.
