42 U.S.C. § 5589 : US Code - Section 5589: Promotion and facilitation of practical use of photovoltaic energy

Search 42 U.S.C. § 5589 : US Code - Section 5589: Promotion and facilitation of practical use of photovoltaic energy

(a) Dissemination of information; trade secret exemption
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, relevant 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
photovoltaic energy throughout the United States. Any trade secret
or other proprietary information shall be exempted from such
mandatory disclosure, as otherwise specified in law applicable to
research, development and demonstration programs of the Department
of Energy, including, but not limited to, section 5916 of this
title.
(b) Studies and investigations
The Secretary shall -
(1) study the effect of the widespread utilization of
photovoltaic systems on the existing electric utility system at
varying levels of photovoltaic contribution to the system;
(2) study and investigate the effect of utility rate
structures, building codes, zoning ordinances, and other laws,
codes, ordinances, and practices upon the practical use of
photovoltaic systems;
(3) 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
accomplished; and
(4) determine the necessity of a program of incentives to
accelerate the commercial application of photovoltaic
technologies.
(c) Policy recommendations to President and Congress
The Secretary is authorized and directed, within one year of
November 4, 1978, to make recommendations to the President and to
the Congress for Federal policies relating to barriers to the early
and widespread utilization of photovoltaic systems in order to
realize the goals set forth in section 5581 of this title. These
recommendations shall include but not be limited to -
(1) the potential for integration of electricity derived from
photovoltaic energy systems into the existing national grid
system, including the potential of photovoltaic-generated
electricity to meet the peak-load energy needs of electric
utilities, load management and reliability implications of the
utilization of photovoltaic electricity by utilities, the
implications of utility ownership of photovoltaic components
leased to others primarily for decentralized applications, the
impacts of utility use of electricity derived from photovoltaic
energy systems on utility rate structures, and the potential for
reducing or obviating the need for energy storage components for
photovoltaic energy systems through utility interface;
(2) the extent of competition between firms currently engaged
in the fabrication and installation of photovoltaics components
and systems as it affects the character and growth potential of
the American photovoltaics industry, and the likelihood that
small photovoltaic firms will have reasonable opportunities to
compete and participate in the various programs authorized by
this subchapter;
(3) the need to identify legal alternatives to ensure access to
direct sunlight for photovoltaic energy systems, the appropriate
methods of encouraging the adoption of such alternatives, and the
implications of widespread utilization of photovoltaic energy
systems for land use and urban development;
(4) the availability of private capital at reasonable interest
rates for individuals, businesses and others desiring to
establish commercial enterprises to manufacture, market, install,
and/or, maintain photovoltaic components and systems, or purchase
and install such systems for private, industrial, agricultural,
commercial or other uses;
(5) the need for industry-wide warranty and reliability
standards for photovoltaic energy components and systems for
private sector applications, and, if appropriate, the mechanisms
for establishing such standards; and
(6) the attainability of the goals specified in section 5581(b)
of this title, and any modification of such goals which the
Secretary proposes for consideration by Congress, with supporting
analyses.
(d) Consultation with government agencies, industry
representatives, and scientific and technical community;
coordination and merger of studies and reports
In carrying out his functions under this section, the Secretary
shall consult with the appropriate government agencies, industry
representatives, and members of the scientific and technical
community having expertise and interest in this area. The Secretary
also shall ensure that any study or report prepared pursuant to
this section is fully coordinated with and reflective of any
analyses or reports prepared pursuant to the requirements in
section 5556a of this title, and in the President's Solar Energy
Domestic Policy Review. The Secretary, as appropriate, may merge
any continuing or on-going studies under section 5556a of this
title or the Domestic Policy Review with those required by this
section or avoid any unnecessary duplication of effort or funding.
The separate report requirements of section 5556a of this title and
this section, however, shall remain in force.