---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16161"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16161"
heading: "Solar and wind technologies"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16161"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Hydrogen"
---

# §16161. Solar and wind technologies

- (a) **Solar energy technologies—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) prepare a detailed roadmap for carrying out the provisions in this subchapter related to solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies and for implementing the recommendations related to solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies that are included in the report transmitted under [subsection (e)](#e);
  - (2) provide for the establishment of 5 [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) in [geographic areas](/usc/42/11360.md?p=9) that are regionally and climatically diverse to demonstrate the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) at solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4), including one [demonstration project](/usc/42/16281.md?p=d-2) at a [National Laboratory](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) or [institution of higher education](/usc/42/15801.md?p=2-A);
  - (3) establish a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)—
    - (A) to develop optimized [concentrating solar power devices](#f-1) that may be used for the production of both electricity and [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1); and
    - (B) to evaluate the use of thermochemical cycles for [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) production at the temperatures attainable with [concentrating solar power devices](#f-1);
  - (4) coordinate with activities sponsored by the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1)’s [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Nuclear [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), Science, and Technology on high-temperature materials, thermochemical cycles, and economic issues related to solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7);
  - (5) provide for the [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) and operation of new [concentrating solar power devices](#f-1) or solar power cogeneration [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) that produce [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) either concurrently with, or independently of, the production of electricity;
  - (6) support existing [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of study related to [concentrating solar power devices](#f-1); and
  - (7) establish a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)—
    - (A) to develop methods that use electricity from [photovoltaic devices](#f-4) for the onsite production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1), such that no intermediate transmission or distribution [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4) is required or used and future demand growth may be accommodated;
    - (B) to evaluate the economics of small-scale electrolysis for [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) production; and
    - (C) to study the potential of modular [photovoltaic devices](#f-4) for the development of a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4), the security implications of a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4), and the benefits potentially derived from a [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4).
- (b) **Wind energy technologies—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) prepare a detailed roadmap for carrying out the provisions in this subchapter related to wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies and for implementing the recommendations related to wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies that are included in the report transmitted under [subsection (e)](#e); and
  - (2) provide for the establishment of 5 [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) in [geographic areas](/usc/42/11360.md?p=9) that are regionally and climatically diverse to demonstrate the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) at existing wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4), including one [demonstration project](/usc/42/16281.md?p=d-2) at a [National Laboratory](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) or [institution of higher education](/usc/42/15801.md?p=2-A).
- (c) **Program support—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall support [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at institutions of higher education for the development of solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies and wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies for the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1). The [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) supported under this subsection shall—
  - (1) enhance [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) and faculty assistance [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (2) provide support for fundamental research;
  - (3) encourage collaborative research among industry, [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), and institutions of higher education;
  - (4) support communication and outreach; and
  - (5) to the greatest extent possible—
    - (A) be located in [geographic areas](/usc/42/11360.md?p=9) that are regionally and climatically diverse; and
    - (B) be located at [part B institutions](#f-3), [minority institutions](#f-2), and institutions of higher education located in [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) participating in the Experimental [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to Stimulate Competitive Research of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1).
- (d) **Institutions of higher education and National Laboratory interactions—** In conjunction with the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) supported under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall develop sabbatical, [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3), and visiting scientist [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to encourage [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) and institutions of higher education to share and [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) personnel.
- (e) **Report—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall transmit to the Congress not later than 120 days after August 8, 2005, a report containing detailed summaries of the roadmaps prepared under subsections [(a)(1)](#a-1) and [(b)(1)](#b-1), descriptions of the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4)’s progress in establishing the [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) and other [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) required under this section, and recommendations for promoting the availability of advanced solar and wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies for the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1).
- (f) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section—
  - (1) the term “concentrating solar power devices” means devices that concentrate the power of the sun by reflection or refraction to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic or thermal generation process;
  - (2) the term “minority institution” has the meaning given to that term in [section 1067k of title 20](/usc/20/1067k.md);
  - (3) the term “part B institution” has the meaning given to that term in [section 1061 of title 20](/usc/20/1061.md); and
  - (4) the term “photovoltaic devices” means devices that convert light directly into electricity through a solid-[state](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), semiconductor process.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for carrying out the activities under this section for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2020.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VIII, § 812, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 853.)