CHAPTER 74 —NONNUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter Referred to in Other Sections
This chapter is referred to in
§5901. Congressional statement of findings
The Congress hereby finds that—
(a) The Nation is suffering from a shortage of environmentally acceptable forms of energy.
(b) Compounding this energy shortage is our past and present failure to formulate a comprehensive and aggressive research and development program designed to make available to American consumers our large domestic energy reserves including fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, geothermal resources, solar energy, and other forms of energy. This failure is partially because the unconventional energy technologies have not been judged to be economically competitive with traditional energy technologies.
(c) The urgency of the Nation's energy challenge will require commitments similar to those undertaken in the Manhattan and Apollo projects; it will require that the Nation undertake a research, development, and demonstration program in nonnuclear energy technologies with a total Federal investment which may reach or exceed $20,000,000,000 over the next decade.
(d) In undertaking such program, full advantage must be taken of the existing technical and managerial expertise in the various energy fields within Federal agencies and particularly in the private sector.
(e) The Nation's future energy needs can be met if a national commitment is made now to dedicate the necessary financial resources, to enlist our scientific and technological capabilities, and to accord the proper priority to developing new nonnuclear energy options to serve national needs, conserve vital resources, and protect the environment.
(
Short Title
Section 1 of
§5902. Congressional declaration of policy and purpose; implementation and administration of program by Secretary of Energy
(a) It is the policy of the Congress to develop on an urgent basis the technological capabilities to support the broadest range of energy policy options through conservation and use of domestic resources by socially and environmentally acceptable means.
(b)(1) The Congress declares the purpose of this chapter to be to establish and vigorously conduct a comprehensive, national program of basic and applied research and development, including but not limited to demonstrations of practical applications, of all potentially beneficial energy sources and utilization technologies, within the Department of Energy.
(2) In carrying out this program, the Secretary of Energy (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the "Secretary") shall be governed by the terms of this chapter and other applicable provisions of law with respect to all nonnuclear aspects of the research, development, and demonstration program; and the policies and provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [
(3) In implementing and conducting the research, development, and demonstration programs pursuant to this chapter, the Secretary shall incorporate programs in specific nonnuclear technologies previously enacted into law, including those established by the Solar Heating and Cooling Act of 1974 (
(
References in Text
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, §1,
The Solar Heating and Cooling Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), probably means the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974,
The Geothermal Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is
The Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is
Transfer of Functions
"Department of Energy", "Secretary of Energy", and "Secretary" substituted for "Energy Research and Development Administration", "Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration", and "Administrator", respectively, in subsec. (b) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5903. Duties and functions of Secretary
The Secretary shall—
(a) review the current status of nonnuclear energy resources and current nonnuclear energy research and development activities, including research and development being conducted by Federal and non-Federal entities;
(b) formulate and carry out a comprehensive Federal nonnuclear energy research, development, and demonstration program which will expeditiously advance the policies established by this chapter and other relevant legislation establishing programs in specific energy technologies;
(c) utilize the funds authorized pursuant to this chapter to advance energy research and development by initiating and maintaining, through fund transfers, grants, or contracts, energy research, development and demonstration programs or activities utilizing the facilities, capabilities, expertise, and experience of Federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, nonprofit organizations, industrial entities, and other non-Federal entities which are appropriate to each type of research, development, and demonstration activity;
(d) establish procedures for periodic consultation with representatives of science, industry, environmental organizations, consumers, and other groups who have special expertise in the areas of energy research, development, and technology; and
(e) initiate programs to design, construct, and operate energy facilities of sufficient size to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing various forms of nonnuclear energy.
(
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5903a. Nonduplication of programs, projects, and research facilities
The Secretary shall coordinate nonnuclear programs of the Department of Energy with the heads of relevant Federal agencies in order to minimize unnecessary duplication of programs, projects, and research facilities.
(
Codification
Section was not enacted as a part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, and "Department of Energy" substituted in text for "Administration" pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5903b. Environmental and safety research, development, and demonstration program
The Secretary shall conduct an environmental and safety research, development, and demonstration program related to fossil fuels.
(
Codification
Section was not enacted as a part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5903c. Moneys received by Secretary from fossil energy activity; payment into Treasury; reports to House and Senate Committees
All moneys received by the Secretary from any fossil energy activity shall be paid into the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts, except that on December 1 of each year the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report of all such receipts for the preceding fiscal year, including, but not limited to, the amount and source of such revenues and the program and subprogram activity generating such revenues.
(
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
1994—
Change of Name
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Science of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5903d. Clean coal technology projects; proposals, implementation, funding, etc.
Within 60 days following December 19, 1985, the Secretary of Energy shall, pursuant to the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (
(
References in Text
The Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, referred to in text, is
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
Provisions Relating to Projects Using Clean Coal Technologies
Provisions relating to projects using clean coal technologies were contained in the following appropriations acts:
§5904. Research, development, and demonstration program governing principles
(a) The Congress authorizes and directs that the comprehensive program in research, development, and demonstration required by this chapter shall be designed and executed according to the following principles:
(1) Energy conservation shall be a primary consideration in the design and implementation of the Federal nonnuclear energy program. For the purposes of this chapter, energy conservation means both improvement in efficiency of energy production and use, and reduction in energy waste.
(2) The environmental and social consequences of a proposed program shall be analyzed and considered in evaluating its potential.
(3) Any program for the development of a technology which may require significant consumptive use of water after the technology has reached the stage of commercial application shall include thorough consideration of the impacts of such technology and use on water resources pursuant to the provisions of
(4) Heavy emphasis shall be given to those technologies which utilize renewable or essentially inexhaustible energy sources.
(5) The potential for production of net energy by the proposed technology at the stage of commercial application shall be analyzed and considered in evaluating proposals.
(b) The Congress further directs that the execution of the comprehensive research, development, and demonstration program shall conform to the following principles:
(1) Research and development of nonnuclear energy sources shall be pursued in such a way as to facilitate the commercial availability of adequate supplies of energy to all regions of the United States.
(2) In determining the appropriateness of Federal involvement in any particular research and development undertaking, the Secretary shall give consideration to the extent to which the proposed undertaking satisfies criteria including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) The urgency of public need for the potential results of the research, development, or demonstration effort is high, and it is unlikely that similar results would be achieved in a timely manner in the absence of Federal assistance.
(B) The potential opportunities for non-Federal interests to recapture the investment in the undertaking through the normal commercial utilization of proprietary knowledge appear inadequate to encourage timely results.
(C) The extent of the problems treated and the objectives sought by the undertaking are national or widespread in their significance.
(D) There are limited opportunities to induce non-Federal support of the undertaking through regulatory actions, end use controls, tax and price incentives, public education, or other alternatives to direct Federal financial assistance.
(E) The degree of risk of loss of investment inherent in the research is high, and the availability or risk capital to the non-Federal entities which might otherwise engage in the field of the research is inadequate for the timely development of the technology.
(F) The magnitude of the investment appears to exceed the financial capabilities of potential non-Federal participants in the research to support effective efforts.
(
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
National Alcohol Fuels Commission
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§5905. Comprehensive plan and implementing program for energy research, development, and demonstration; transmission to Congress; purposes; scope of program; comprehensive environment and safety program implementing plan; development and transmission to Congress
(a) Pursuant to the authority and directions of this chapter and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (
(1) solutions to immediate and short-term (the period up to 5 years after submission of the plan or its annual revision) energy supply system and associated environmental problems;
(2) solutions to middle-term (the period from 5 years to 10 years after submission of the plan or its annual revision) energy supply system and associated environmental problems; and
(3) solutions to long-term (the period beyond 10 years after submission of the plan or its annual revision) energy supply system and associated environmental problems.
(b)(1) Based on the comprehensive energy research, development, and demonstration plan developed under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board established under section 2302 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 [
(2) This program shall be designed to achieve solutions to the energy supply and associated environmental problems in the immediate and short-term, middle-term, and long-term time intervals described in subsection (a)(1) through (3) of this section. In formulating the nonnuclear aspects of this program, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board established under section 2302 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 [
(3) The Secretary shall assign program elements and activities in specific nonnuclear energy technologies, to the short-term, middle-term, and long-term time intervals, and shall present full and complete justification for these assignments and the degree of emphasis for each. These program elements and activities shall include, but not be limited to, research, development, and demonstrations designed—
(A) to advance energy conservation technologies, including but not limited to—
(i) productive use of waste, including garbage, sewage, agricultural wastes, and industrial waste heat;
(ii) reuse and recycling of materials and consumer products;
(iii) improvements in automobile design for increased efficiency and lowered emissions, including investigation of the full range of alternatives to the internal combustion engine and systems of efficient public transportation; and
(iv) advanced urban and architectural design to promote efficient energy use in the residential and commercial sectors, improvements in home design and insulation technologies, small thermal storage units and increased efficiency in electrical appliances and lighting fixtures;
(B) to accelerate the commercial demonstration of technologies for producing low-sulfur fuels suitable for boiler use;
(C) to demonstrate improved methods for the generation, storage, and transmission of electrical energy through (i) advances in gas turbine technologies, combined power cycles, the use of low British thermal unit gas and, if practicable, magnetohydrodynamics; (ii) storage systems to allow more efficient load following, including the use of inertial energy storage systems; and (iii) improvement in cryogenic transmission methods;
(D) to accelerate the commercial demonstration of technologies for producing substitutes for natural gas, including coal gasification: Provided, That the Secretary shall invite and consider proposals from potential participants based upon Federal assistance and participation in the form of a joint Federal-industry corporation, and recommendations pursuant to this clause shall be accompanied by a report on the viability of using this form of Federal assistance or participation;
(E) to accelerate the commercial demonstration of technologies for producing syncrude and liquid petroleum products from coal: Provided, That the Secretary shall invite and consider proposals from potential participants based upon Federal assistance and participation through guaranteed prices or purchase of the products, and recommendations pursuant to this clause shall be accompanied by a report on the viability of using this form of Federal assistance or participation;
(F) in accordance with the program authorized by the Geothermal Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974 (
(G) to demonstrate the production of syncrude from oil shale by all promising technologies including in situ technologies;
(H) to demonstrate new and improved methods for the extraction of petroleum resources, including secondary and tertiary recovery of crude oil;
(I) to demonstrate the economics and commercial viability of solar energy for residential and commercial energy supply applications in accordance with the program authorized by the Solar Heating and Cooling Act of 1974 (
(J) to accelerate the commercial demonstration of environmental control systems for energy technologies developed pursuant to this chapter;
(K) to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of tidal power for supplying electrical energy;
(L) to commercially demonstrate advanced solar energy technologies in accordance with the Solar Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974 (
(M) to determine the economics and commercial viability of the production of synthetic fuels such as hydrogen and methanol;
(N) to commercially demonstrate the use of fuel cells for central station electric power generation;
(O) to determine the economics and commercial viability of in situ coal gasification;
(P) to improve techniques for the management of existing energy systems by means of quality control; application of systems analysis, communications, and computer techniques; and public information with the objective of improving the reliability and efficiency of energy supplies and encourage the conservation of energy resources;
(Q) to improve methods for the prevention and cleanup of marine oil spills;
(R) to implement the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (
(S) to implement titles XX through XXIII of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 [
(c) Based upon the comprehensive plan developed under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board established under section 2302 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 [
(
References in Text
The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (a), is
The Department of Energy Organization Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is
The Energy Policy Act of 1992, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(3)(S), is
The Solar Heating and Cooling Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), probably means the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974,
The Geothermal Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(F), is
The Solar Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(L), probably means the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974,
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(R), is
Amendments
1992—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
Subsec. (c).
1978—Subsec. (c).
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in subsec. (b)(3) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Nonapplicability of Title II of Pub. L. 95–238 to Any Authorization or Appropriation for Military Application of Nuclear Energy, Etc.; Definitions
Nonapplicability of provisions of title II of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§5906. Federal assistance and participation in programs
(a) Forms of activities authorized
In carrying out the objectives of this chapter, the Secretary may utilize various forms of Federal assistance and participation which may include but are not limited to—
(1) joint Federal-industry experimental, demonstration, or commercial corporations consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section;
(2) contractual arrangements with non-Federal participants including corporations, consortia, universities, governmental entities and nonprofit institutions;
(3) contracts for the construction and operation of federally owned facilities;
(4) Federal purchases or guaranteed price of the products of demonstration plants or activities consistent with the provisions of subsection (c) of the section;
(5) Federal loans to non-Federal entities conducting demonstrations of new technologies;
(6) incentives, including financial awards, to individual inventors, such incentives to be designed to encourage the participation of a large number of such inventors; and
(7) Federal loan guarantees and commitments thereof as provided in section 5919 1 of this title.
(b) Proposed joint Federal-industry corporations; operational guidelines; powers, duties, and functions; composition; scope of Federal assistance and participation; specific authorization
Joint Federal-industry corporations proposed for congressional authorization pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of
(1) Each such corporation may design, construct, operate, and maintain one or more experimental, demonstration, or commercial-size facilities, or other operations which will ascertain the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of a particular energy technology. In carrying out this function, the corporation shall be empowered, either directly or by contract, to utilize commercially available technologies, perform tests, or design, construct, and operate pilot plants, as may be necessary for the design of the full-scale facility.
(2) Each corporation shall have—
(A) a Board of nine directors consisting of individuals who are citizens of the United States, of whom one shall be elected annually by the Board to serve as Chairman. The Board shall be empowered to adopt and amend bylaws. Five members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and four members of the Board shall be appointed by the President on the basis of recommendations received by him from any non-Federal entity or entities entering into contractual arrangements to participate in the corporation;
(B) a President and such other officers and employees as may be named and appointed by the Board (with the rates of compensation of all officers and employees being fixed by the Board); and
(C) the usual powers conferred upon corporations by the laws of the District of Columbia.
(3) An appropriate time interval, not to exceed 12 years, shall be established for the term of Federal participation in the corporation, at the expiration of which the Board of Directors shall take such action as may be necessary to dissolve the corporation or otherwise terminate Federal participation and financial interests. In carrying out such dissolution, the Board of Directors shall dispose of all physical facilities of the corporation in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board determines are in the public interest and consistent with existing law; and a share of the appraised value of the corporate assets proportional to the Federal participation in the corporation, including the proceeds from the disposition of such facilities, on the date of its dissolution, after satisfaction of all its legal obligations, shall be made available to the United States and deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. All patent rights of the corporation shall, on such date of dissolution, be vested in the Secretary: Provided, That Federal participation may be terminated prior to the time established in the authorizing Act upon recommendation of the Board of Directors.
(4) Any commercially valuable product produced by demonstration facilities shall be disposed of in such manner and under such terms and conditions as the corporation shall prescribe. All revenues received by the corporation from the sale of such products shall be available to the corporation for use by it in defraying expenses incurred in connection with carrying out its functions to which this chapter applies.
(5) The estimated Federal share of the construction, operation, and maintenance cost over the life of each corporation shall be determined in order to facilitate a single congressional authorization of the full amount at the time of establishment of the corporation.
(6) The Federal share of the cost of each such corporation shall reflect (A) the technical and economic risk of the venture, (B) the probability of any financial return to the non-Federal participants arising from the venture, (C) the financial capability of the potential non-Federal participants, and (D) such other factors as the Secretary may set forth in proposing the corporation: Provided, That in no instance shall the Federal share exceed 90 per centum of the cost.
(7) No such corporation shall be established unless previously authorized by specific legislation enacted by the Congress.
(c) Proposed competitive systems of price supports for demonstration facilities; guidelines
Competitive systems of price supports proposed for congressional authorization pursuant to this chapter shall conform to the following guidelines:
(1) The Secretary shall determine the types and capacities of the desired full-scale, commercial-size facility or other operation which would demonstrate the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of a particular nonnuclear energy technology.
(2) The Secretary may award planning grants for the purpose of financing a study of the full cycle economic and environmental costs associated with the demonstration facility selected pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such planning grants may be awarded to Federal and non-Federal entities including, but not limited to, industrial entities, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Such planning grants may also be used by the grantee to prepare a detailed and comprehensive bid to construct the demonstration facility.
(3) Following the completion of the studies pursuant to the planning grants awarded under paragraph (2) of this subsection regarding each such potential price supported demonstration facility for which the Secretary intends to request congressional authorization, he shall invite bids from all interested parties to determine the minimum amount of Federal price support needed to construct the demonstration facility. The Secretary may designate one or more competing entities, each to construct one commercial demonstration facility. Such designation shall be made on the basis of those entities, (A) commitment to construct the demonstration facility at the minimum level of Federal price supports, (B) detailed plan of environmental protection, and (C) proposed design and operation of the demonstration facility.
(4) The construction plans and actual construction of the demonstration facility, together with all related facilities, shall be monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency. If additional environmental requirements are imposed by the Secretary after the designation of the successful bidders and if such additional environmental requirements result in additional costs, the Secretary is authorized to renegotiate the support price to cover such additional costs.
(5) The estimated amount of the Federal price support for a demonstration facility's product over the life of such facility shall be determined by the Secretary to facilitate a single congressional authorization of the full amount of such support at the time of the designation of the successful bidders.
(6) No price support program shall be implemented unless previously authorized by specific legislation enacted by the Congress.
(d) Support for joint university-industry research efforts
Nothing in this section shall preclude Federal participation in, and support for, joint university-industry nonnuclear energy research efforts.
(
Codification
Amendments
1986—Subsec. (b)(7).
1978—Subsec. (a)(7).
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in subsecs. (a), (b)(3), (6), (7)(A), and (c)(1) to (5) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Nonapplicability of Title II of Pub. L. 95–238 to Any Authorization or Appropriation for Military Application of Nuclear Energy, Etc.; Definitions
Nonapplicability of provisions of title II of
Price-Support Program To Demonstrate Municipal Solid Waste Reprocessing for Production of Fuels and Energy Intensive Products
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 See Codification note below.
§5907. Demonstration projects
(a) Scope of authority of Secretary
The Secretary is authorized to—
(1) identify opportunities to accelerate the commercial applications of new energy technologies, and provide Federal assistance for or participation in demonstration projects (including pilot plants demonstrating technological advances and field demonstrations of new methods and procedures, and demonstrations of prototype commercial applications for the exploration, development, production, transportation, conversion, and utilization of energy resources); and
(2) enter into cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities to demonstrate the technical feasibility and economic potential of energy technologies on a prototype or full-scale basis.
(b) Criteria applicable in reviewing potential projects
In reviewing potential projects, the Secretary shall consider criteria including but not limited to—
(1) the anticipated, research, development, and application objectives to be achieved by the activities or facilities proposed;
(2) the economic, environmental, and societal significance which a successful demonstration may have for the national fuels and energy system;
(3) the relationship of the proposal to the criteria of priority set forth in
(4) the availability of non-Federal participants to construct and operate the facilities or perform the activities associated with the proposal and to contribute to the financing of the proposal;
(5) the total estimated cost including the Federal investment and the probable time schedule;
(6) the proposed participants and the proposed financial contributions of the Federal Government and of the non-Federal participants; and
(7) the proposed cooperative arrangement, agreements among the participants, and form of management of the activities.
(c) Federal and non-Federal share of costs
(1) A financial award under this section may be made only to the extent of the Federal share of the estimated total design and construction costs, plus operation and maintenance costs.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter the non-Federal share may be in any form, including, but not limited to, lands or interests therein needed for the project or personal property or services, the value of which shall be determined by the Secretary.
(d) Submission of proposals to Secretary; promulgation of regulations by Secretary establishing procedures; required contents of proposals and regulations
(1) The Secretary shall, within six months of December 31, 1974, promulgate regulations establishing procedures for submission of proposals to the Secretary for the purposes of this chapter. Such regulations shall establish a procedure for selection of proposals which—
(A) provides that projects will be carried out under such conditions and varying circumstances as will assist in solving energy extraction, transportation, conversion, conservation, and end-use problems of various areas and regions, under representative geological, geographic, and environmental conditions; and
(B) provides time schedules for submission of, and action on, proposal requests for the purposes of implementing the goals and objectives of this chapter.
(2) Such regulations also shall specify the types and form of the information, data, and support documentation that are to be contained in proposals for each form of Federal assistance or participation set forth in
(A) specification of the technology;
(B) description of prior pilot plant operating experience with the technology;
(C) preliminary design of the demonstration plant;
(D) time tables containing proposed construction and operation plans;
(E) budget-type estimates of construction and operating costs;
(F) description and proof of title to land for proposed site, natural resources, electricity and water supply and logistical information related to access to raw materials to construct and operate the plant and to dispose of salable products produced from the plant;
(G) analysis of the environmental impact of the proposed plant and plans for disposal of wastes resulting from the operation of the plant;
(H) plans for commercial use of the technology if the demonstration is successful;
(I) plans for continued use of the plant if the demonstration is successful; and
(J) plans for dismantling of the plant if the demonstration is unsuccessful or otherwise abandoned.
(3) The Secretary shall from time to time review and, as appropriate, modify and repromulgate regulations issued pursuant to this section.
(e) Amount of estimate of Federal investment requiring Congressional authorization for appropriation
If the estimate of the Federal investment with respect to construction costs of any demonstration project proposed to be established under this section exceeds $50,000,000, no amount may be appropriated for such project except as specifically authorized by legislation hereafter enacted by the Congress.
(f) Amount of estimated Federal contribution authorizing Secretary to proceed with negotiation of agreements and implementation of proposal; amount of Federal contribution requiring Secretary to submit report to Congress as prerequisite to expenditure of funds
If the total estimated amount of the Federal contribution to the construction cost of a demonstration project does not exceed $50,000,000, the Secretary is authorized to proceed with the negotiation of agreements and implementation of the proposal subject to the availability of funds under the authorization of appropriations pursuant to
(
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary" and "Secretary's", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator" and "Administrator's", respectively, meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in subsecs. (a), (b), (c)(2), (d)(1), (3), and (f) and "Secretary" substituted for "Energy Research and Development Administration" in subsec. (d)(1) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Report to Congress on Environmental, Monitoring, Assessment, and Control Efforts Required for Demonstration Projects; Submission to Congress by December 3, 1977
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§5907a. Small grant program
(a) Establishment
There shall be established within the Department of Energy a program for appropriate technology under the direction of the Secretary. The Secretary shall develop and implement a program of small grants for the purpose of encouraging development and demonstration projects described in subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Limitation
The aggregate amount of financial support made available to any participant in such program, including affiliates, under this section shall not exceed $50,000 during any two-year period.
(c) Systems and technologies to be developed and demonstrated
Funds made available under this section shall be used to provide for a coordinated and expanded effort for the development and demonstration of, and the dissemination of information with respect to, energy-related systems and supporting technologies appropriate to—
(1) the needs of local communities and the enhancement of community self-reliance through the use of available resources;
(2) the use of renewable resources and the conservation of nonrenewable resources;
(3) the use of existing technologies applied to novel situations and uses;
(4) applications which are energy-conserving, environmentally sound, small scale, durable and low cost; and
(5) applications which demonstrate simplicity of installation, operation and maintenance.
(d) Eligible participants; simplified application procedures; report to Secretary; allocation criteria; guidelines
(1) Grants, agreements or contracts under this section may be made to individuals, local nonprofit organizations and institutions, State and local agencies, Indian tribes and small businesses. The Secretary shall develop simplified procedures with respect to application for support under this section.
(2) Each grant, agreement or contract under this section shall be governed by the provisions of section 9 of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 [
(3) In determining the allocation of funds among applicants for support under this section the Secretary may take into consideration:
(A) the potential for energy savings or energy production;
(B) the type of fuel saved or produced;
(C) the potential impact on local or regional energy or environmental problems; and
(D) such other criteria as the Secretary finds necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act or the purposes of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 [
Guidelines implementing this section shall be promulgated with full opportunity for public comment.
(e) Reports to Congress
The Secretary shall—
(1) prepare and submit no later than October 1, 1977, a detailed report on plans for implementation, including the timing of implementation, of the provisions of this section to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and shall keep such committees fully and currently informed concerning the development of such plans; and
(2) include as a part of the annual report required by section 15(a)(1) of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 [
(
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D), means
The Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D), is
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
Change of Name
Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundredth Congress, Jan. 6, 1987. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Science of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", "Administration", and "Assistant Administrator for Conservation and Development", meaning Energy Research and Development Administration and Administrator thereof, in subsecs. (a), (d), and (e) and "Department of Energy" substituted for "Administration" in subsec. (a) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5908. Patents and inventions
(a) Vesting of title to invention and issuance of patents to United States; prerequisites
Whenever any invention is made or conceived in the course of or under any contract of the Secretary, other than nuclear energy research, development, and demonstration pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (
(1) the person who made the invention was employed or assigned to perform research, development, or demonstration work and the invention is related to the work he was employed or assigned to perform, or that it was within the scope of his employment duties, whether or not it was made during working hours, or with a contribution by the Government of the use of Government facilities, equipment, materials, allocated funds, information proprietary to the Government, or services of Government employees during working hours; or
(2) the person who made the invention was not employed or assigned to perform research, development, or demonstration work, but the invention is nevertheless related to the contract or to the work or duties he was employed or assigned to perform, and was made during working hours, or with a contribution from the Government of the sort referred to in clause (1).1
title to such invention shall vest in the United States, and if patents on such invention are issued they shall be issued to the United States, unless in particular circumstances the Secretary waives all or any part of the rights of the United States to such invention in conformity with the provisions of this section.
(b) Contract as requiring report to Secretary of invention, etc., made in course of contract
Each contract entered into by the Secretary with any person shall contain effective provisions under which such person shall furnish promptly to the Secretary a written report containing full and complete technical information concerning any invention, discovery, improvement, or innovation which may be made in the course of or under such contract.
(c) Waiver by Secretary of rights of United States; regulations prescribing procedures; record of waiver determinations; objectives
Under such regulations in conformity with the provisions of this section as the Secretary shall prescribe, the Secretary may waive all or any part of the rights of the United States under this section with respect to any invention or class of inventions made or which may be made by any person or class of persons in the course of or under any contract of the Secretary if he determines that the interests of the United States and the general public will be best served by such waiver. The Secretary shall maintain a publicly available, periodically updated record of waiver determinations. In making such determinations, the Secretary shall have the following objectives:
(1) Making the benefits of the energy research, development, and demonstration program widely available to the public in the shortest practicable time.
(2) Promoting the commercial utilization of such inventions.
(3) Encouraging participation by private persons in the Secretary's energy research, development, and demonstration program.
(4) Fostering competition and preventing undue market concentration or the creation or maintenance of other situations inconsistent with the antitrust laws.
(d) Considerations applicable at time of contracting for waiver determination by Secretary
In determining whether a waiver to the contractor at the time of contracting will best serve the interests of the United States and the general public, the Secretary shall specifically include as considerations—
(1) the extent to which the participation of the contractor will expedite the attainment of the purposes of the program;
(2) the extent to which a waiver of all or any part of such rights in any or all fields of technology is needed to secure the participation of the particular contractor;
(3) the extent to which the contractor's commercial position may expedite utilization of the research, development, and demonstration program results;
(4) the extent to which the Government has contributed to the field of technology to be funded under the contract;
(5) the purpose and nature of the contract, including the intended use of the results developed thereunder;
(6) the extent to which the contractor has made or will make substantial investment of financial resources or technology developed at the contractor's private expense which will directly benefit the work to be performed under the contract;
(7) the extent to which the field of technology to be funded under the contract has been developed at the contractor's private expense;
(8) the extent to which the Government intends to further develop to the point of commercial utilization the results of the contract effort;
(9) the extent to which the contract objectives are concerned with the public health, public safety, or public welfare;
(10) the likely effect of the waiver on competition and market concentration; and
(11) in the case of a nonprofit educational institution, the extent to which such institution has a technology transfer capability and program, approved by the Secretary as being consistent with the applicable policies of this section.
(e) Considerations applicable to identified invention for waiver determination by Secretary
In determining whether a waiver to the contractor or inventor or rights to an identified invention will best serve the interests of the United States and the general public, the Secretary shall specifically include as considerations paragraphs (4) through (11) of subsection (d) of this section as applied to the invention and—
(1) the extent to which such waiver is a reasonable and necessary incentive to call forth private risk capital for the development and commercialization of the invention; and
(2) the extent to which the plans, intentions, and ability of the contractor or inventor will obtain expeditious commercialization of such invention.
(f) Rights subject to reservation where title to invention vested in United States
Whenever title to an invention is vested in the United States, there may be reserved to the contractor or inventor—
(1) a revocable or irrevocable nonexclusive, paid-up license for the practice of the invention throughout the world; and
(2) the rights to such invention in any foreign country where the United States has elected not to secure patent rights and the contractor elects to do so, subject to the rights set forth in paragraphs (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subsection (h) of this section: Provided, That when specifically requested by the Secretary and three years after issuance of such a patent, the contractor shall submit the report specified in subsection (h)(1) of this section.
(g) to (i) Repealed. Pub. L. 96–517, §7(c), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3027
(j) Small business status of applicant for waiver or licenses
The Secretary shall, in granting waivers or licenses, consider the small business status of the applicant.
(k) Protection of invention, etc., rights by Secretary
The Secretary is authorized to take all suitable and necessary steps to protect any invention or discovery to which the United States holds title, and to require that contractors or persons who acquire rights to inventions under this section protect such inventions.
(l) Department of Energy as defense agency of United States for purpose of maintaining secrecy of inventions
The Department of Energy shall be considered a defense agency of the United States for the purpose of
(m) Definitions
As used in this section—
(1) the term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution, or other entity;
(2) the term "contract" means any contract, grant, agreement, understanding, or other arrangement, which includes research, development, or demonstration work, and includes any assignment, substitution of parties, or subcontract executed or entered into thereunder;
(3) the term "made", when used in relation to any invention, means the conception or first actual reduction to practice of such invention;
(4) the term "invention" means inventions or discoveries, whether patented or unpatented; and
(5) the term "contractor" means any person having a contract with or on behalf of the Secretary.
(n) Report concerning applicability of existing patent policies to energy programs; time for submission to President and appropriate Congressional committees
Within twelve months after December 31, 1974, the Secretary with the participation of the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, and other officials as the President may designate, shall submit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a report concerning the applicability of existing patent policies affecting the programs under this chapter, along with his recommendations for amendments or additions to the statutory patent policy, including his recommendations on mandatory licensing, which he deems advisable for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
(
References in Text
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, §1,
The antitrust laws, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), probably mean the laws specified as antitrust laws in
Amendments
1980—Subsec. (g).
Subsec. (h).
Subsec. (i).
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary" and "Secretary's", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", "Administration", and "Administration's", meaning Energy Research and Development Administration and Administrator thereof, in subsecs. (a) to (e), (f)(2), (j), (k), (m)(5), and (n), and "Department of Energy" substituted for "Administration" in subsec. (l) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 So in original. Probably should be a comma.
§5909. Relationship to antitrust laws
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to convey to any individual, corporation, or other business organization immunity from civil or criminal liability, or to create defenses to actions, under the antitrust laws.
(b) As used in this section, the term "antitrust law" means—
(1) the Act entitled "An Act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies", approved July 2, 1890 (
(2) the Act entitled "An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes", approved October 15, 1914 (
(3) the Federal Trade Commission Act (
(4) sections 73 and 74 of the Act entitled "An Act to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other purposes", approved August 27, 1894 (
(5) the Act of June 19, 1936,
(
References in Text
Act of July 2, 1890, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act July 2, 1890, ch. 647,
Act of October 15, 1914, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323,
The Federal Trade Commission Act (
Act of June 19, 1936, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is act June 19, 1936, ch. 592,
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§5910. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–66, title II, §2021(i), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 727
Section,
§5911. Allocation or acquisition of essential materials and equipment pursuant to Presidential rule or order; transmission to Congress and effective date of proposed rule or order; disapproval by Congress
(a) The President may, by rule or order, require the allocation of, or the performance under contracts or orders (other than contracts of employment) relating to, supplies of materials and equipment if he finds that—
(1) such supplies are scarce, critical, and essential to carry out the purposes of this chapter; and
(2) such supplies cannot reasonably be obtained without exercising the authority granted by this section.
(b) The President shall transmit any rule or order proposed under subsection (a) of this section (bearing an identification number) to each House of Congress on the date on which it is proposed. If such proposed rule or order is transmitted to the Congress such proposed rule or order shall take effect at the end of the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after the date on which such proposed rule or order is transmitted to it unless, between the date of transmittal and the end of the thirty day period, either House passes a resolution stating in substance that such House does not favor such a proposed rule or order.
(
§5912. Water resource assessments
(a) Assessments by Water Resources Council of water resource requirements and water supply availability for nonnuclear energy technologies; preparation requirements
The Water Resources Council shall undertake assessments of water resource requirements and water supply availability for any nonnuclear energy technology and any probable combinations of technologies which are the subject of Federal research and development efforts authorized by this chapter, and the commercial development of which could have significant impacts on water resources. In the preparation of its assessment, the Council shall—
(1) utilize to the maximum extent practicable data on water supply and demand available in the files of member agencies of the Council;
(2) collect and compile any additional data it deems necessary for complete and accurate assessments;
(3) give full consideration to the constraints upon availability imposed by treaty, compact, court decree, State water laws, and water rights granted pursuant to State and Federal law;
(4) assess the effects of development of such technology on water quality;
(5) include estimates of cost associated with production and management of the required water supply, and the cost of disposal of waste water generated by the proposed facility or process;
(6) assess the environmental, social, and economic impact of any change in use of currently utilized water resource that may be required by the proposed facility or process; and
(7) consult with the Council on Environmental Quality.
(b) Request by Secretary that Water Resources Council prepare assessment of availability of adequate water resources for proposed demonstration projects; report; publication
For any proposed demonstration project which may involve a significant impact on water resources, the Secretary shall, as a precondition of Federal assistance to that project, request the Water Resources Council to prepare an assessment of water requirements and availability for such project. A report on the assessment shall be published in the Federal Register for public review thirty days prior to the expenditure of Federal funds on the demonstration.
(c) Assessment by Water Resources Council of availability of adequate water resources as precondition for Federal assistance for commercial application of nonnuclear energy technologies
For any proposed Federal assistance for commercial application of energy technologies pursuant to this chapter, the Water Resource 1 Council shall, as a precondition of such Federal assistance, provide to the Secretary an assessment of the availability of adequate water resources for such commercial application and an evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the dedication of water to such uses.
(d) Publication of reports of assessments and evaluations by Water Resources Council in Federal Register; public review and comments
Reports of assessments and evaluations prepared by the Council pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) of this section shall be published in the Federal Register and at least ninety days shall be provided for public review and comment. Comments received shall accompany the reports when they are submitted to the Secretary and shall be available to the public.
(e) Inclusion of survey and analysis of regional and national water resource availability in biennial assessment by Water Resources Council
The Council shall include a broad survey and analysis of regional and national water resource availability for energy development in the biennial assessment required by
(f) Secretary as member of Water Resources Council
The Secretary shall, upon enactment of this subsection, be a member of the Council.
(
Amendments
1977—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (f).
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in subsecs. (b) to (d) and (f) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Functions of Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality relating to evaluation provided for by
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 So in original. Probably should be "Resources".
§5913. Evaluation by National Institute of Standards and Technology of energy-related inventions prior to awarding of grants by Secretary; promulgation of regulations
The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall give particular attention to the evaluation of all promising energy-related inventions, particularly those submitted by individual inventors and small companies for the purpose of obtaining direct grants from the Secretary. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is authorized to promulgate regulations in the furtherance of this section.
(
Amendments
1988—
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 15 section 278m.
§5914. Reports to Congress
(a) Required contents
Concurrent with the submission of the President's annual budget to the Congress, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress each year—
(1) a report detailing the activities carried out pursuant to this chapter during the preceding fiscal year;
(2) a detailed description of the comprehensive plan for nuclear and nonnuclear energy research, development, and demonstration then in effect under
(3) a detailed description of the comprehensive nonnuclear research, development, and demonstration program then in effect under
(4) a detailed description of the environmental and safety research, development, and demonstration activities carried out and in progress including the procedures adopted to mitigate undesirable environmental and safety impacts,
setting forth such modifications in the comprehensive plan referred to in clause (2) and the comprehensive program referred to in clause (3) as may be necessary to revise appropriately such plan and program in the light of the activities referred to in clause (1) and any changes in circumstances which may have occurred since the last previous report under this subsection.
(b) Additional required contents
The description of the comprehensive nonnuclear research, development, and demonstration program submitted under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall include a statement setting forth—
(1) the anticipated research, development, and application objectives to be achieved by the proposed program;
(2) the economic, environmental, and societal significance which the proposed program may have;
(3) the total estimated cost of individual program items;
(4) the estimated relative financial contributions of the Federal Government and non-Federal participants in the research and development program;
(5) the relationship of the proposed program to any Federal national energy or fuel policies; and
(6) the relationship of any short-term undertakings and expenditures to long-range goals.
(c) Satisfaction of requirements for reports relating to development of energy sources
The reports required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section will satisfy the reporting requirements of
(
Amendments
1978—Subsec. (a)(4).
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator" in subsec. (a) and for "Energy Research and Development Administration" in subsec. (c) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Nonapplicability of Title II of Pub. L. 95–238 to Any Authorization or Appropriation for Military Application of Nuclear Energy, Etc.; Definitions
Nonapplicability of provisions of title II of
Classification of Recipients of Awards, Contracts, or Other Financial Arrangements; Reporting Requirement
"(a) The Administrator [now Secretary of Energy] shall classify each recipient of any award, contract, or other financial arrangement in any nonnuclear research, development, or demonstration category as—
"(1) a Federal agency,
"(2) a non-Federal governmental entity,
"(3) a profitmaking enterprise (indicating whether or not it is a small business concern),
"(4) a nonprofit enterprise other than an educational institution, or
"(5) a nonprofit educational institution.
"(b) The information required by subsection (a), along with the dollar amount of each award, contract, or other financial arrangement made, shall be included as an appendix to the annual report required by section 15(a) of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (
Solar Energy: Division Personnel Levels and Progress Toward Objectives
"(a) detail the Solar Energy Division personnel level recommended for the current fiscal year by the Administrator [now Secretary of Energy] and submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, and the personnel level authorized upon review by that Office; and
"(b) detail progress toward completion by January 1, 1980, of the objectives of the Solar Energy Research Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974 (
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§5915. Authorization of appropriations
(a) There may be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the purposes of this chapter such sums as may be authorized in annual authorization Acts.
(b) Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section—
(1) $500,000 annually shall be made available by fund transfer to the Council on Environmental Quality for the purposes authorized by section 5910 1 of this title; and
(2) not to exceed $1,000,000 annually shall be made available by fund transfer to the Water Resources Council for the purposes authorized by
(c) There also may be appropriated to the Secretary by separate Acts such amounts as are required for demonstration projects for which the total Federal contribution to construction costs exceeds $50,000,000.
(
References in Text
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in subsecs. (a) and (c) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Functions of Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality relating to evaluation provided for by
Alternative Fuels Production; Energy Security Reserve Fund
"In order to expedite the domestic development and production of alternative fuels and to reduce dependence on foreign supplies of energy resources by establishing such domestic production at maximum levels at the earliest time practicable, there is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a special fund to be designated the 'Energy Security Reserve', to which is appropriated $19,000,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That these funds shall be available for obligation only to stimulate domestic commercial production of alternative fuels and only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts: Provided further, That of these funds $1,500,000,000 shall be available immediately to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the provisions of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, as amended (
"This Act [
"For the purposes of this appropriation the term 'alternative fuels', means gaseous, liquid, or solid fuels and chemical feedstocks derived from coal, shale, tar sands, lignite, peat, biomass, solid waste, unconventional natural gas, and other minerals or organic materials other than crude oil or any derivative thereof.
"Within ninety days following enactment of this Act [Nov. 27, 1979], the Secretary of Energy in his sole discretion shall issue a solicitation for applications which shall include criteria for project development feasibility studies described in this account.
"Loan guarantees for oil shale facilities issued under this appropriation may be used to finance construction of full-sized commercial facilities without regard to the proviso in section 19(b)(1) of said Act [
"In any case in which the Government, under the provisions of this appropriation, accepts delivery of and does not resell any alternative fuels, such fuels shall be used by an appropriate Federal agency. Such Federal agency shall pay into the reserve the market price, as determined by the Secretary, for such fuels from sums appropriated to such Federal agency for the purchase of fuels. The Secretary shall pay the contractor, from sums appropriated herein, the contract price for such fuels.
"All amounts received by the Secretary under this appropriation, including fees, any other monies, property, or assets derived by the Secretary from operations under this appropriation shall be deposited in the reserve.
"All payments for obligations and appropriate expenses (including reimbursements to other Government accounts), pursuant to operations of the Secretary under this appropriation shall be paid from the reserve subject to appropriations.
"For the establishment in the Treasury of the United States of a special fund to be designated the 'Solar and Conservation Reserve', $1,000,000,000 to remain available until expended: Provided, That these funds shall be available for obligation only to stimulate solar energy and conservation: Provided further, That the withdrawal of said funds shall be subject to the passage of authorizing legislation and only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts."
Additional provisions relating to appropriations for the Energy Security Reserve Fund, purposes for which the Fund is available, and administrative provisions for the Fund and alternative fuels production were contained in the following appropriation Acts:
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 See References in Text note below.
§5915a. Expiration of initial authorization to construct fossil energy demonstration plants
Notwithstanding any other applicable provision of law, the initial authorization in this Act or any other Act heretofore or hereafter enacted to construct, pursuant to
(
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.
§5916. Central source of nonnuclear energy information; acquisition of proprietary and other information; availability of information to public, Government agencies, Federal agencies and agency heads for execution of duties and responsibilities, and chairmen of Congressional committees; disclosure restrictions
The Secretary shall promptly establish, develop, acquire, and maintain a central source of information on all energy resources and technology in furtherance of the Secretary's research, development, and demonstration mission carried out directly or indirectly under this chapter. When the Secretary determines that such information is needed to carry out the purposes of this chapter, he may acquire proprietary and other information (a) by purchase through negotiation or by donation from any person, or (b) from another Federal agency. The information maintained by the Secretary shall be made available to the public, subject to the provisions of
(
Codification
In cl. (B), the words "the Federal Energy Administration," and "the Federal Power Commission," following "the Federal Trade Commission," and "the Environmental Protection Agency,", respectively, omitted from text in view of termination of Federal Energy Administration and Federal Power Commission and transfer of their functions (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy pursuant to sections 301, 703, and 707 of
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary" and "Secretary's", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator" and "Administrator's", respectively, meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5917. Energy information
The Secretary is, upon request, authorized to obtain energy information under
(
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator", meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
§5918. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–106, div. D, title XLIII, §4304(b)(5), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 664
Section,
Effective Date of Repeal
For effective date and applicability of repeal, see section 4401 of
§5919. Loan guarantees and commitments for alternative fuel demonstration facilities
(a) Statement of purpose
It is the purpose of this section—
(1) to assure adequate Federal support to foster a demonstration program to produce alternative fuels from coal, oil shale, biomass, and other domestic resources;
(2) to authorize assistance, through loan guarantees under subsection 1 (b) and (y) of this section for construction and startup and related costs, to demonstration facilities for the conversion of domestic coal, oil shale, biomass, and other domestic resources into alternative fuels; and
(3) to gather information about the technological, economic, environmental, and social costs, benefits, and impacts of such demonstration facilities.
(b) Issuance of obligations for alternative fuel conversion facilities; terms and conditions; rules and regulations; informational requirements; concurrence of Secretary of Treasury to terms and conditions; pledge of full faith and credit of United States; cooperative agreements for construction, etc., of modular facilities; bidding practices
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection and subsection (y) of this section the Secretary is authorized, in accordance with such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to guarantee and to make commitments to guarantee, in such manner and subject to such conditions (not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter) as he deems appropriate, the payment of interest on, and the principal balance of, bonds, debentures, notes, and other obligations issued by, or on behalf of, any borrower for the purpose of financing the construction and startup costs of demonstration facilities for the conversion of domestic coal, oil shale, biomass, and other domestic resources into alternative fuels: Provided, That no loan guarantee for a full sized oil shale facility shall be provided under this section until after successful demonstration of a modular facility producing between six and ten thousand barrels per day, taking into account such considerations as water usage, environmental effects, waste disposal, labor conditions, health and safety, and the socioeconomic impacts on local communities: Provided further, That no loan guarantee shall be available under this subsection for the manufacture of component parts for demonstration facilities eligible for assistance under this subsection.
(2) An applicant for any financial assistance under this section shall provide information to the Secretary in such form and with such content as the Secretary deems necessary.
(3) Prior to issuing any guarantee under this section the Secretary shall obtain the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the timing, interest rate, and substantial terms and conditions of such guarantee. The Secretary of the Treasury shall insure to the maximum extent feasible that the timing, interest rate, and substantial terms and conditions of such guarantee will have the minimum possible impact on the capital markets of the United States, taking into account other Federal direct and indirect securities activities.
(4) The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees issued under this section with respect to principal and interest.
(5)(A) The Secretary is authorized, in the case of a facility for the conversion of oil shale to alternative fuels which is determined by the Secretary pursuant to the proviso in paragraph (1) of this subsection, to be constructed at a modular size, to enter into a cooperative agreement with the applicant in accordance with
(B) After successful demonstration of the modular facility, as determined by the Secretary, the facility is eligible for financial assistance under this section for purposes of expansion to a full sized facility and the applicant may purchase the Federal interest in the modular facility as represented by the Federal share thereof by means of (i) a cash payment to the United States, or (ii) a share of the product or sales resulting from such expanded operation, as determined by the Secretary. If expansion of such facility is determined not to be warranted by the Secretary, he may, at the option of the applicant, dispose of the modular facility to the applicant at not less than fair market value, as determined by the Secretary as of the date of the disposal, or otherwise dispose of it, in accordance with applicable provisions of law, and distribute the net proceeds thereof, after expenses of such disposal, to the applicant in proportion to the applicant's share of the costs of such facility.
(6) To the extent possible, loan guarantees shall be issued on the basis of competitive bidding among guarantee applicants in a particular technology area.
(c) Prerequisites
The Secretary, with due regard for the need for competition, shall guarantee or make a commitment to guarantee any obligation under subsection (b) or (y) of this section only if—
(1) the Secretary is satisfied that the financial assistance applied for is necessary to encourage financial participation;
(2) the amount guaranteed to any borrower at any time does not exceed—
(A) an amount equal to 75 per centum of the project cost of the demonstration facility as estimated at the time the guarantee is issued, which cost shall not include amounts expended for facilities and equipment used in the extraction of a mineral other than coal or shale, and in the case of coal only to the extent that the Secretary determines that the coal is to be converted to alternative fuel; and
(B) an amount equal to 60 per centum of that portion of the actual total project cost of any demonstration facility which exceeds the project cost of such facility as estimated at the time the loan guarantee is issued;
(3) the Secretary has determined that there will be a continued reasonable assurance of full repayment;
(4) the obligation is subject to the condition that it not be subordinated to any other financing;
(5) the Secretary has determined, taking into consideration all reasonably available forms of assistance under this section and other Federal and State statutes, that the impacts resulting from the proposed demonstration facility have been fully evaluated by the borrower, the Secretary, and the Governor of the affected State, and that effective steps have been taken or will be taken in a timely manner to finance community planning and development costs resulting from such facility under this section, under other provisions of law, or by other means;
(6) the maximum maturity of the obligation does not exceed twenty years, or 90 per centum of the projected useful economic life of the physical assets of the demonstration facility covered by the guarantee, whichever is less, as determined by the Secretary;
(7) the Secretary has determined that, in the case of any demonstration or modular facility planned to be located on Indian lands, the appropriate Indian tribe, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, has given written consent to such location;
(8) the obligation provides for the orderly and ratable retirement of the obligation and includes sinking fund provisions, installment payment provisions or other methods of payments and reserves as may be reasonably required by the Secretary. Prior to approving any repayment schedule the Secretary may consider the date on which operating revenues are anticipated to be generated by the project. To the maximum extent possible repayment or provision therefor shall be required to be made in equal payments payable at equal intervals; and
(9) the obligation provides that the Secretary shall, after a period of not less than ten years from issuance of the obligation, taking into consideration whether the Government's needs for information to be derived from the project have been substantially met and whether the project is capable of commercial operation, determine the feasibility and advisability of terminating the Federal participation in the project. In the event that such determination is positive, the Secretary shall notify the borrower and provide the borrower with not less than two nor more than three years in which to find alternative financing. At the expiration of the designated period of time, if the borrower has been unable to secure alternative financing, the Secretary is authorized to collect from the borrower an additional fee of 1 per centum per annum on the remaining obligation to which the Federal guarantee applies.
(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 96–470, title I, §109, Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2239
(e) Impact on communities, States, and Indian tribes; notice to State and local officials; procedures applicable for further action by Secretary subsequent to negative recommendation by State Governor; criteria and determinations relating to approval by Secretary of construction and operation plans; establishment, membership, etc., of advisory panel
(1) As soon as the Secretary knows the geographic location of a proposed facility for which a guarantee or a commitment to guarantee or cooperative agreement is sought under this section, he shall inform the Governor of the State, and officials of each political subdivision and Indian tribe, as appropriate, in which the facility would be located or which would be impacted by such facility. The Secretary shall not guarantee or make a commitment to guarantee or enter into a cooperative agreement under subsection (b) or subsection (y) of this section, if the Governor of the State in which the proposed facility would be located recommends that such action not be taken, unless the Secretary finds that there is an overriding national interest in taking such action in order to achieve the purpose of this section. If the Secretary decides to guarantee or make a commitment to guarantee or enter into a cooperative agreement despite a Governor's recommendation not to take such action, the Secretary shall communicate, in writing, to the Governor reasons for not concurring with such recommendation. This Secretary's decision, pursuant to this subsection, shall be final unless determined upon judicial review initiated by the Governor to be unlawful by the reviewing court pursuant to section 706(2)(A) through (D) of title 5. Such review shall take place in the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the State involved is located, upon application made within ninety days from the date of such decision. The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish procedures for review of, and comment on, the proposed facility by States, local political subdivisions, and Indian tribes which may be impacted by such facility, and the general public.
(2) The Secretary shall review and approve the plans of the applicant for the construction and operation of any demonstration and related facilities constructed or to be constructed with assistance under this section. Such plans and the actual construction shall include such monitoring and other data-gathering costs associated with such facility as are required by the comprehensive plan and program under this section. The Secretary shall determine the estimated total cost of such demonstration facility, including, but not limited to, construction costs, startup costs, costs to political subdivisions and Indian tribe by such facility, and cost of any water storage facilities needed in connection with such demonstration facility, and determine who shall pay such costs. Such determination shall not be binding upon the States, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes.
(3) There is hereby established a panel to advise the Secretary on matters relating to the program authorized by this section, including, but not limited to, the impact of the demonstration facilities on communities and States and Indian tribes, the environmental and health and safety effects of such facilities, and the means, measures, and planning for preventing or mitigating such impacts, and other matters relating to the development of alternative fuels and other energy sources under this section. The panel shall include such Governors or their designees as shall be designated by the Chairman of the National Governors Conference. Representatives of Indian tribes, industry, environmental organizations, and the general public shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Chairman of the panel shall be selected by the Secretary. No person shall be appointed to the panel who has a financial interest in any applicant applying for assistance under this section. Members of the panel shall serve without compensation. The provisions of
(f) Termination, cancellation, revocation; conclusiveness; contestability
Except in accordance with reasonable terms and conditions contained in the written contract of guarantee, no guarantee issued or commitment to guarantee made under this section shall be terminated, canceled, or otherwise revoked. Such a guarantee or commitment shall be conclusive evidence that the underlying obligation is in compliance with the provisions of this section and that such obligation has been approved and is legal as to principal, interest, and other terms. Subject to the conditions of the guarantee or commitment to guarantee, such a guarantee shall be incontestable in the hands of the holder of the guaranteed obligation, except as to fraud or material misrepresentation on the part of the holder.
(g) Default by borrower; procedures applicable to payment by Secretary and rights of subrogation; notice to Attorney General by Secretary for further action; protection for benefit of United States of patents and technologies of defaulting project through agreements, etc.
(1) If there is a default by the borrower, as defined in regulations promulgated by the Secretary and in the guarantee contract, the holder of the obligation shall have the right to demand payment of the unpaid amount from the Secretary. Within such period as may be specified in the guarantee or related agreements, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the obligation the unpaid interest on, and unpaid principal of, the guaranteed obligation as to which the borrower has defaulted, unless the Secretary finds that there was no default by the borrower in the payment of interest or principal or that such default has been remedied. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude any forebearance by the holder of the obligation for the benefit of the borrower which may be agreed upon by the parties to the guaranteed obligation and approved by the Secretary.
(2) If the Secretary makes a payment under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the recipient of such payment (and such subrogation shall be expressly set forth in the guarantee or related agreements), including the authority to complete, maintain, operate, lease, or otherwise dispose of any property acquired pursuant to such guarantee or related agreements, or any other property of the borrower (of a value equal to the amount of such payment) to the extent that the guarantee applies to amounts in excess of the estimated project cost under subsection (c)(2)(B) of this section, without regard to the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended [
(3) In the event of a default on any guarantee under this section, the Secretary shall notify the Attorney General, who shall take such action as may be appropriate to recover the amounts of any payments made under paragraph (1) including any payment of principal and interest under subsection (h) of this section from such assets of the defaulting borrower as are associated with the demonstration facility, or from any other security included in the terms of the guarantee.
(4) For purposes of this section, patents, including any inventions for which a waiver was made by the Secretary under
(h) Contracts to pay, and payment of principal and interest by Secretary of unpaid balance of guaranteed obligations; prerequisites
With respect to any obligation guaranteed under this section, the Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract to pay, and to pay, holders of the obligations, for and on behalf of the borrowers, from the fund established by this section, the principal and interest payments which become due and payable on the unpaid balance of such obligation if the Secretary finds that—
(1) the borrower is unable to meet such payments and is not in default; it is in the public interest to permit the borrower to continue to pursue the purposes of such demonstration facility; and the probable net benefit to the Federal Government in paying such principal and interest will be greater than that which would result in the event of a default;
(2) the amount of such payment which the Secretary is authorized to pay shall be no greater than the amount of principal and interest which the borrower is obligated to pay under the loan agreement; and
(3) the borrower agrees to reimburse the Secretary for such payment on terms and conditions, including interest, which are satisfactory to the Secretary.
(i) Time for issuance of regulations; procedures applicable to issuance of regulations and amendments
Regulations required by this section shall be issued within one hundred and eighty days after February 25, 1978. All regulations under this section and any amendments thereto shall be issued in accordance with
(j) Fees for guarantees of obligations; determination of amounts; excepted guarantees
The Secretary shall charge and collect fees for guarantees of obligations authorized by subsection (b)(1) of this section, in amounts which (1) are sufficient in the judgment of the Secretary to cover the applicable administrative costs, and (2) reflect the percentage of projects costs guaranteed. In no event shall the fee be less than 1 per centum per annum of the outstanding indebtedness covered by the guarantee. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to apply to community planning and development assistance pursuant to subsection (k) of this section.
(k) Community development and planning assistance guarantees; terms and conditions; rules and regulations; concurrence of Secretary of Treasury to terms and conditions; payment of taxes in event of default by borrower; additional direct loans and grants; redemption of debt obligations; funding requirements and authorizations; facility title vesting and status upon default
(1) In accordance with such rules and regulations as the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, and subject to such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate, the Secretary is authorized, for the purpose of financing essential community development and planning which directly result from, or are necessitated by, one or more demonstration facilities assisted under this section to—
(A) guarantee and make commitments to guarantee the payment of interest on, and the principal balance of obligations for such financing issued by eligible States, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes,
(B) guarantee and make commitments to guarantee the payment of taxes imposed on such demonstration facilities by eligible non-Federal taxing authorities which taxes are earmarked by such authorities to support the payment of interest and principal on obligations for such financing, and
(C) require that the applicant for assistance for a demonstration facility under this section advance sums to eligible States, political subdivisions, and Indian tribes to pay for the financing of such development and planning: Provided, That the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe agrees to provide tax abatement credits over the life of the facilities for such payments by such applicant.
(2) Prior to issuing any guarantee under this subsection, the Secretary shall obtain the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the timing, interest rate, and substantial terms and conditions of such guarantee. The Secretary of the Treasury shall insure to the maximum extent feasible that the timing, interest rate, and substantial terms and conditions of such guarantee will have the minimum possible impact on the capital markets of the United States, taking into account other Federal direct and indirect securities activities.
(3) In the event of any default by the borrower in the payment of taxes guaranteed by the Secretary under this subsection, the Secretary shall pay out of the fund established by this section such taxes at the time or times they may fall due, and shall have by reason of such payment a claim against the borrower for all sums paid plus interest.
(4) If after consultation with the State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, the Secretary finds that the financial assistance programs of paragraph (1) of this subsection will not result in sufficient funds to carry out the purposes of this subsection, then the Secretary may—
(A) make direct loans to the eligible States, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes for such purposes: Provided, That such loans shall be made on such reasonable terms and conditions as the Secretary shall prescribe: Provided further, That the Secretary may waive repayment of all or part of a loan made under this paragraph, including interest, if the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe involved demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that due to a change in circumstances there will be net adverse impacts resulting from such demonstration facility that would probably cause such State, subdivision, or tribe to default on the loan; or
(B) require that any community development and planning costs which are associated with, or result from, such demonstration facility and which are determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for such inclusion shall be included in the total costs of the demonstration facility.
(5) The Secretary is further authorized to make grants to States, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes for studying and planning for the potential economic, environmental, and social consequences of demonstration facilities, and for establishing related management expertise.
(6) At any time the Secretary may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury, redeem, in whole or in part, out of the fund established by this section, the debt obligations guaranteed or the debt obligations for which tax payments are guaranteed under this subsection.
(7) When one or more States, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes would be eligible for assistance under this subsection, but for the fact that construction and operation of the demonstration facilities occurs outside its jurisdiction, the Secretary is authorized to provide, to the greatest extent possible, arrangements for equitable sharing of such assistance.
(8) Such amounts as may be necessary for direct loans and grants pursuant to this subsection shall be available as provided in annual authorization Acts.
(9) The Secretary, if appropriate, shall provide assistance in the financing of up to 100 per centum of the costs of the required community development and planning pursuant to this subsection.
(10) In carrying out the provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall provide that title to any facility receiving financial assistance under this subsection shall vest in the applicable State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, as appropriate, and in the case of default by the borrower on a loan guarantee such facility shall not be considered a project asset for the purposes of subsection (g) of this section.
(l) Annual reporting requirements; contents, etc.
(1) The Secretary is directed to submit a report to the Congress within one hundred and eighty days after February 25, 1978, setting forth his recommendations on the best opportunities to implement a program of Federal financial assistance with the objective of demonstrating production and conservation of energy. Such report shall be updated and submitted to Congress at least annually and shall include specific comments and recommendations by the Secretary of the Treasury on the methods and procedures set forth in subparagraph (B)(viii) of this subsection, including their adequacy, and changes necessary to satisfy the objectives stated in this subsection. This report shall include—
(A) a study of the purchase or commitment to purchase by the Federal Government, for the use by the United States, of all or a portion of the products of any alternative fuel facilities constructed pursuant to this program as a direct or an alternate form of Federal assistance, which assistance, if recommended, shall be carried out pursuant to
(B) a comprehensive plan and program to acquire information and evaluate the environmental, economic, social, and technological impacts of the demonstration program under this section. In preparing such a comprehensive plan and program, the Secretary shall consult with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Treasury, and shall include therein, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) information about potential demonstration facilities proposed in the program under this section;
(ii) any significant adverse impacts which may result from any activity included in the program;
(iii) the extent to which it is feasible to commercialize the technologies as they affect different regions of the Nation;
(iv) proposed regulations required to carry out the purposes of this section;
(v) a list of Federal agencies, governmental entities, and other persons that will be consulted or utilized to implement the program;
(vi) the methods and procedures by which the information gathered under the program will be analyzed and disseminated;
(vii) a plan for the study and monitoring of the health effects of such facilities on workers and other persons, including, but not limited to, any carcinogenic effect of alternative fuels; and
(viii) the methods and procedures to insure that (I) the use of the Federal assistance for demonstration facilities is kept to the minimum level necessary for the information objectives of this section, (II) the impact of loan guarantees on the capital markets of the United States is minimized, taking into account other Federal direct and indirect securities activities, and any economic sectors which may be negatively impacted as a result of the reduction of capital by the placement of guaranteed loans, and (III) the granting of Federal loan guarantees under this chapter does not impede movement toward improvement in the climate for attracting private capital to develop alternative fuels without continued direct Federal incentives.
(2) The Secretary shall annually submit a detailed report to the Congress concerning—
(A) the actions taken or not taken by the Secretary under this section during the preceding fiscal year, and including, but not be limited to (i) a discussion of the status of each demonstration facility and related facilities financed under this section, including progress made in the development of such facilities, and the expected or actual production from each such facility, including byproduct production therefrom, and the distribution of such products and byproducts, (ii) a detailed statement of the financial conditions of each such demonstration facility, (iii) data concerning the environmental, community, and health and safety impacts of each such facility and the actions taken or planned to prevent or mitigate such impacts, (iv) the administrative and other costs incurred by the Secretary and other Federal agencies in carrying out this program, and (v) such other data as may be helpful in keeping Congress and the public fully and currently informed about the program authorized by this section; and
(B) the activities of the fund referred to in subsection (n) of this section during the preceding fiscal year, including a statement of the amount and source of fees or other moneys, property, or assets deposited into the funds, all payments made, the notes or other obligations issued by the Secretary, and such other data as may be appropriate.
(3) The annual reports required by this subsection shall be a part of the annual report required by
(m) Congressional finalization of guarantee, etc., subsequent to report to Congressional committees; scope of authority
Prior to issuing any guarantee or commitment to guarantee or cooperative agreement pursuant to subsection (b) or subsection (y) of this section the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a full and complete report on the proposed demonstration facility and such guarantee, agreement, or contract. Such guarantee, commitment to guarantee, cooperative agreement, or contract shall not be finalized under the authority granted by this section prior to the expiration of ninety calendar days (not including any day on which either House of Congress is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three calendar days to a day certain) from the date on which such report is received by such committees: Provided, That, where the cost of a demonstration facility to be assisted with a guarantee or cooperative agreement pursuant to subsection (b) or subsection (y) of this section exceeds $50,000,000 such guarantee or commitment to guarantee or cooperative agreement shall not be finalized unless (1) the making of such guarantee or commitment or agreement is specifically authorized by legislation hereafter enacted by the Congress or (2) both Houses pass a resolution stating in substance that the Congress favors the making of such guarantee or commitment or agreement.
(n) Revolving fund; creation; funding; payments and transfers to general fund of Treasury; issuance, redemption, etc., of notes or obligations; applicability to direct loans or planning grants
(1) There is hereby created within the Treasury a separate fund (hereafter in this section called the "fund") which shall be available to the Secretary without fiscal year limitation as a revolving fund for the purpose of carrying out the program authorized by subsection (b)(1) of this section and subsections (g), (h), (k), and (y) of this section.
(2) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the fund for administrative expenses from time to time such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the applicable provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, the payments of interest and principal and the payment of interest differentials and redemption of debt. All amounts received by the Secretary as interest payments or repayments of principal on loans which are guaranteed under this section, fees, and any other moneys, property, or assets derived by him from operations under this section shall be deposited in the fund.
(3) All payments on obligations, appropriate expenses (including reimbursements to other Government accounts), and repayments pursuant to operations of the Secretary under this section shall be paid from the fund subject to appropriations. If at any time the Secretary determines that moneys in the fund exceed the present and reasonably foreseeable future requirements of the fund, such excess shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury.
(4) If at any time the moneys available in the fund are insufficient to enable the Secretary to discharge his responsibilities as authorized by subsections (b)(1), (g), (h), and (y) of this section, the Secretary shall issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations in such forms and denominations, bearing such maturities, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Redemption of such notes or obligations shall be made by the Secretary from appropriations or other moneys available under paragraph (2) of this subsection for loan guarantees authorized by subsection (b)(1) of this section and subsections (g), (h), (k), and (y) of this section. Such notes or other obligations shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, which shall be not less than a rate determined by taking into consideration the average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities during the month preceding the issuance of the notes or other obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury may at any time sell any of the notes or other obligations acquired by him under this subsection.
(5) The provisions of this subsection do not apply to direct loans or planning grants made under subsection (k) of this section.
(o) Definitions
For the purposes of this section, the term—
(1) "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, any territory or possession of the United States,
(2) "United States" means the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa,
(3) "borrower" or "applicant" shall include any individual, firm, corporation, company, partnership, association, society, trust, joint venture, joint stock company, or other non–Federal entity, and
(4) "biomass" shall include, but is not limited to, animal and timber waste, municipal and industrial waste, sewage, sludge, and oceanic and terrestrial crops.
(p) Citizenship or nationality requirements for applicants; waiver
(1) An applicant seeking a guarantee or cooperative agreement under subsection (b) or subsection (y) of this section must be a citizen or national of the United States. A corporation, partnership, firm, or association shall not be deemed to be a citizen or national of the United States unless the Secretary determines that it satisfactorily meets all the requirements of
(2) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may waive such requirements in the case of a corporation, partnership, firm, or association, controlling interest in which is owned by citizens of countries which are participants in the International Energy Agreement.
(q) Transfer of part of program to other agency or authority
No part of the program authorized by this section shall be transferred to any other agency or authority, except pursuant to Act of Congress enacted after February 25, 1978.
(r) Statutory provisions applicable to inventions
Inventions made or conceived in the course of or under a guarantee authorized by this section shall be subject to the title and waiver requirements and conditions of
(s) Compliance by persons receiving financial assistance with Federal and State environmental, etc., laws and regulations, and licensing requirements
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the obligations of any person receiving financial assistance pursuant to this section to comply with Federal and State environmental, land use, water, and health and safety laws and regulations or to obtain applicable Federal and State permits, licenses, and certificates.
(t) Availability of information; procedures applicable; scope of disclosure; persons to whom disclosure may be made; "person" defined
The information maintained by the Secretary under this section shall be made available to the public subject to the provision of
(u) Scope of exercise of statutory authorities
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the authority provided in this section to make guarantees or commitments to guarantee or enter into cooperative agreements under subsection (b)(1) or subsection (y) of this section, to make guarantees or commitments to guarantees, or to make loans or grants, under subsection (k) of this section, to make contracts under subsection (h) of this section, and to use fees and receipts collected under subsections (b), (j), and (y) of this section, and the authorities provided under subsection (n) of this section shall be effective only to the extent provided, without fiscal year limitation, in appropriation Acts enacted after February 25, 1978.
(v) Nondiscrimination requirements; scope of exemption from requirements for Indian tribes
No person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with assistance made available under this section: Provided, That Indian tribes are exempt from the operation of this subsection: Provided further, That such exemption shall be limited to the planning and provision of public facilities which are located on reservations and which are provided for members of the affected Indian tribes as the primary beneficiaries.
(w) Participation by small business concerns in program
In carrying out his functions under this section, the Secretary shall provide a realistic and adequate opportunity for small business concerns to participate in the program to the optimum extent feasible consistent with the size and nature of each project.
(x) Recordkeeping requirements; audit by Comptroller General; labor standards at construction facilities
(1) Recipients of financial assistance under this section shall keep such records and other pertinent documents, as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation, including, but not limited to, records which fully disclose the disposition of the proceeds of such assistance, the cost of any facility, the total cost of the provision of public facilities for which assistance was used and such other records as the Secretary may require to facilitate an effective audit. The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or their duly authorized representative shall have access, for the purpose of audit, to such records and other pertinent documents.
(2) All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction work financed in whole or in part with assistance under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (
(y) Issuance of obligations for synthetic fuel conversion facilities and municipal organic waste energy generation facilities; rules and regulations; statutory provisions inapplicable; limitation on outstanding indebtedness; additional procedural requirements and terms and conditions applicable
(1) The Secretary is authorized in accordance with such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to guarantee and to make commitments to guarantee the payment of interest on, and the principal balance of, bonds, debentures, notes, and other obligations issued by or on behalf of any borrower for the purpose of (A) financing the construction and startup costs of demonstration facilities for the conversion of municipal or industrial waste, sewage sludge, or other municipal organic wastes into synthetic fuels, and (B) financing the construction and startup costs of demonstration facilities to generate desirable forms of energy (including synthetic fuels) from municipal or industrial waste, sewage sludge, or other municipal organic waste. With respect to a guarantee or a commitment to guarantee authorized by this subsection; the following subsections of this section shall not apply: (b)(1), (b)(5), (c)(2), (c)(5), (c)(6), (c)(7), (c)(8), (c)(9), (e)(3), (j), (k), and (q).
(2) In the case where the Secretary seeks to guarantee or to make commitments to guarantee as provided by this subsection he is authorized to incur an outstanding indebtedness which at no time shall exceed $300,000,000.
(3) The Secretary shall apply the following provisions thereto:
(A) With respect to any demonstration facility for the conversion of solid waste (as the term is defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (
(B) The amount guaranteed shall not exceed 75 per centum of the total cost of the commercial demonstration facility, as determined by the Secretary: Provided, That the amount guaranteed may not exceed 90 per centum of the total cost of the commercial demonstration facility during the period of construction and startup.
(C) The maximum maturity of the obligation shall not exceed thirty years, or 90 per centum of the projected useful economic life of the physical assets of the commercial demonstration facility covered by the guarantee, whichever is less, as determined by the Secretary.
(D) The Secretary shall charge and collect fees for guarantees of obligations in amounts sufficient in the judgment of the Secretary to cover the applicable administrative costs and probable losses on guaranteed obligations, but in any event not to exceed 1 per centum per annum of the outstanding indebtedness covered by the guarantee.
(E) No part of the program authorized by this section shall be transferred to any other agency or authority, except pursuant to Act of Congress enacted after February 25, 1978: Provided, That project agreements entered into pursuant to this section for any commercial demonstration facility for the conversion or bioconversion of solid waste (as that term is defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act [
(F) With respect to any obligation which is issued after February 25, 1978, by, or in behalf of, any State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe and which is either guaranteed under, or supported by taxes levied by said issuer which are guaranteed under, this section, the interest paid on such obligation and received by the purchaser thereof (or the purchaser's successor in interest) shall be included in gross income for the purpose of
(
References in Text
The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), is act June 30, 1949, ch. 288,
The Davis-Bacon Act, as amended, referred to in subsec. (x)(2), is act Mar. 3, 1931, ch. 411,
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950, referred to in subsec. (x)(2), is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (y)(3)(A), (E), is
Codification
The words "the Federal Energy Administration," after "the Environmental Protection Agency," in subsec. (l)(1)(B) and after "the Federal Trade Commission," in subsec. (t)(B), and the words "the Federal Power Commission," after "the Environmental Protection Agency," in subsec. (t)(B) omitted from text in view of termination of Federal Energy Administration and Federal Power Commission and transfer of their functions (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy pursuant to sections 301, 703, and 707 of
Another section 19 of
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (x)(1).
1994—Subsecs. (l)(3), (m).
1986—Subsec. (y)(3)(F).
1980—Subsec. (d).
Change of Name
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Science of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary" and "Secretary's", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator" and "Administrator's", respectively, meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, in text and for "Energy Research and Development Administration" in subsec. (y)(3)(E)(i), (ii) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Nonapplicability of Title II of Pub. L. 95–238 to Any Authorization or Appropriation for Military Application of Nuclear Energy, Etc.; Definitions
Nonapplicability of provisions of title II of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 So in original. Probably should be "subsections".
§5920. Financial support program for municipal waste reprocessing demonstration facilities
(a) Statement of purpose
It is the purpose of this section—
(1) to assure adequate Federal support to foster a program to demonstrate municipal waste reprocessing for the production of fuel and energy intensive products; and
(2) to gather information about the technological, economic, environmental, and social costs, benefits, and impacts of such demonstration facilities.
(b) Grants, contracts, price supports, and cooperative agreements implementing programs; aggregate amount of funds available; "municipal" defined; ownership, operation, etc., of facilities; Federal share; price support program regulations for revenue producing products
(1) The Secretary is authorized and directed, to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, to establish such a demonstration program by making grants, contracts, price supports, and cooperative agreements pursuant to this chapter or any combination thereof for the establishment of municipal waste reprocessing demonstration facilities. For the purpose of this section municipal waste shall include but not be limited to municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, and other municipal organic wastes.
(2) The aggregate amount of funds available for grants, contracts, price supports, and cooperative agreements for municipal waste reprocessing demonstration facilities shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.
(3) For purposes of this section the term "municipal" shall include any city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law.
(4) Municipal waste reprocessing demonstration facilities established under this section shall be owned or operated (or both owned and operated) by the municipality and shall involve the recovery of energy or energy intensive products. Such facilities may be established by any public or private entity, by contract or otherwise, as may be determined by the local government which will own or operate (or both own and operate) such facilities and to which financial support is provided. The Federal share for any such facility to which this section applies shall not exceed 75 per centum of the cost of such facility, and not more than $40,000,000 in Federal funds under this section may be used for the construction of any one facility.
(5) The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary, pursuant to section 5906(a)(4) and section 5906(c)(1) and (6) of this title, for purposes of establishing a price support program for revenue producing products of municipal waste reprocessing demonstration facilities.
(c) Consultation with Environmental Protection Agency to insure compliance with provisions relating to solid waste disposal full-scale demonstration facilities; administration of projects subject to May 7, 1976, Interagency Agreement
(1) The Secretary shall consult with the Environmental Protection Agency to assure that the provisions of
(2) Any energy-related research, development, or demonstration project for the conversion (including bioconversion) of municipal waste carried out by the Secretary pursuant to this chapter or any other Act shall be administered in accordance with the May 7, 1976, Interagency Agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Research and Development Administration on the development of energy from solid wastes; and specifically, in accordance with such Agreement (A) for those energy-related projects of mutual interest, planning will be conducted jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary, following which project responsibility will be assigned to one agency; (B) energy-related aspects of projects for recovery of fuels or energy intensive products from municipal waste as defined in this section shall be the responsibility of the Secretary including energy-related economic and institutional aspects; and (C) the Environmental Protection Agency shall retain responsibility for the environmental and other economic and institutional aspects of solid waste projects and for assurance that such projects are consistent with any applicable suggested guidelines published pursuant to
(d) Guidelines for obtaining program information from municipalities; availability of information, etc., to Congressional committees; annual reports to Congress; contents, etc.
(1) The Secretary shall establish such guidelines as he deems necessary for purposes of obtaining pertinent information from municipalities receiving funding under this section. These guidelines shall include but not be limited to methods of assessment and evaluation of projects authorized under this section. Such assessments and evaluations shall be presented by the Secretary to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources upon the request of either such committee.
(2) The Secretary shall annually submit a report to the Congress concerning the actions taken or not taken by the Secretary under this section during the preceding fiscal year, and including but not limited to (A) a discussion of the status of each demonstration facility and related facilities financed under this section, including progress made in the development of such facilities, and the expected or actual production from each such facility including byproduct production therefrom, and the distribution of such products and byproducts, (B) a statement of the financial condition of each such demonstration facility, (C) data concerning the environmental, community, and health and safety impacts of each such facility and the actions taken or planned to prevent or mitigate such impacts, (D) the administrative and other costs incurred by the Secretary and other Federal agencies in carrying out this program, and (E) such other data as may be helpful in keeping Congress and the public fully and currently informed about the program authorized by this section.
(3) The annual reports required by this subsection shall be a part of the annual report required by
(e) Transfer of part of program to other agency or authority
No part of the program authorized by this section shall be transferred to any other agency or authority, except pursuant to Act of Congress enacted after February 25, 1978.
(f) Compliance by municipalities receiving financial assistance with Federal and State environmental, etc., laws and regulations, and licensing requirements
Nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating any obligations of any municipality receiving financial assistance pursuant to this section to comply with Federal and State environmental, land use, water, and health and safety laws and regulations or to obtain applicable Federal and State permits, licenses, and certificates.
(
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (d)(1), (3).
Change of Name
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Science of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Transfer of Functions
"Secretary", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted for "Administrator" in subsecs. (b)(1), (5), (c)(1), and (d)(1), (2) and for "Energy Research and Development Administration" in subsec. (c)(2) pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in