42 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2008 Edition
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 91 - NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY
SUBCHAPTER III - FEDERAL ENERGY INITIATIVE
Part A - Demonstration of Solar Heating and Cooling in Federal Buildings
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

Part A—Demonstration of Solar Heating and Cooling in Federal Buildings

§8241. Definitions

As used in the part—

(1) The term “Federal agency” means—

(A) an Executive agency as defined in section 105 of title 5; and

(B) each entity specified in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of subsection (1) of section 5721 of title 5.


(2) The term “Federal building” means any building or other structure owned in whole or part by the United States or any Federal agency, including any such structure occupied by a Federal agency under a lease-acquisition agreement under which the United States or a Federal agency will receive fee simple title under the terms of such agreement without further negotiation.

(3) The term “solar heating” means, with respect to any Federal building, the use of solar energy to meet all or part of the heating needs of such building (including hot water), or all or part of the needs of such building for hot water.

(4) The term “solar heating and cooling” means the use of solar energy to provide all or part of the heating needs of a Federal building (including hot water) and all or part of the cooling needs of such building, or all or part of the needs of such building for hot water.

(5) The term “solar energy equipment” means equipment for solar heating or solar heating and cooling.

(6) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.

(Pub. L. 95–619, title V, §521, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3275; Pub. L. 110–161, div. H, title I, §1303(b), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2242.)

Amendments

2007—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 110–161 substituted “subparagraphs (B) through (I)” for “paragraphs (B) through (H)”.

§8242. Federal solar program

The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the General Services Administration, shall develop and carry out a program to demonstrate the application to buildings of solar heating and solar heating and cooling technology in Federal buildings.

(Pub. L. 95–619, title V, §522, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3276.)

§8243. Duties of Secretary

(a) Duties

In exercising the authority provided by section 8242 of this title, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the General Services Administration, shall—

(1) promulgate, by rule—

(A) requirements under which Federal agencies shall submit proposals for the installation of solar energy equipment in Federal buildings which are under their control and which are selected in accordance with procedures set forth in such rule, and

(B) criteria by which proposals under subparagraph (A) will be evaluated, which criteria shall provide for the inclusion in each proposal of a complete analysis of the present value, as determined by the Secretary, of the costs and benefits of the proposal to the Federal agency, and for the demonstration, to the maximum extent practicable, of innovative and diverse applications to a variety of types of Federal buildings of solar heating and solar heating and cooling technology, and for location of demonstration projects in areas where a private sector market for solar energy equipment is likely to develop;


(2) evaluate in writing each such proposal pursuant to the criteria promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), and make such evaluation available to the agency and, upon request, to any person;

(3) provide technical and financial assistance by interagency agreement for implementing a proposal evaluated under paragraph (2) and approved by the Secretary; except that such assistance shall be limited to the design, acquisition, construction, and installation of solar energy equipment;

(4) provide, by rule, that Federal agencies report to the Secretary periodically such information as they acquire respecting maintenance and operation of solar energy equipment for which assistance is provided under paragraph (3);

(5) require that a life cycle cost analysis in accordance with part B be done for any Federal building for which a proposal is submitted under this section and the results of such analysis be included in such proposal; and

(6) if solar energy equipment for which assistance is to be provided under paragraph (3) is not the minimum life-cycle cost alternative, require the Federal agency involved to submit a report to the Secretary stating the amount by which the life-cycle cost of such equipment exceeds the minimum life-cycle cost.

(b) Contents of proposals

Proposals under paragraph (1)(A) of subsection (a) of this section shall include a list of the specific Federal buildings proposed to be provided with solar energy equipment, the funds necessary for the acquisition and installation of such equipment, the proposed implementation schedule, maintenance costs, the estimated savings in fossil fuels and electricity, the estimated payback time, and such other information as may be required by the Secretary.

(c) Initial submission of proposals

Under the requirements established under subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section, initial proposals for the installation of solar energy equipment in Federal buildings selected under subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section shall be submitted not later than 180 days after the date of promulgation of the rule under subsection (a)(1) of this section.

(d) Program to disseminate information to Federal procurement and loan officers

In order to more widely disseminate information about the program under this part and under part B and the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, the Secretary shall establish a program which includes site visits and technical briefings, to disseminate such information to Federal procurement officers and Federal loan officers. The Secretary shall utilize available funds for the program under this subsection.

(Pub. L. 95–619, title V, §523, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3276; Pub. L. 101–218, §8(a), Dec. 11, 1989, 103 Stat. 1868.)

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–218 added subsec. (d).

§8244. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary through fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, to carry out the purposes of this part not to exceed $100,000,000. Funds so appropriated may be transferred by the Secretary to any Federal agency to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of section 8243(a)(3) of this title.

(Pub. L. 95–619, title V, §524, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3277.)