42 U.S.C. § 5556 : US Code - Section 5556: Solar energy demonstration facilities program

Search 42 U.S.C. § 5556 : US Code - Section 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 -

(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.