---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16231"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16231"
heading: "Renewable energy"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16231"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part C — Renewable Energy"
---

# §16231. Renewable energy

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Objectives—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall conduct [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) research, development, demonstration, and commercial application, including activities described in this part. Such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall take into consideration the following objectives:
    - (A) Increasing the conversion efficiency of all forms of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) through improved technologies.
    - (B) Decreasing the cost of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) generation and delivery.
    - (C) Promoting the diversity of the [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) supply.
    - (D) Decreasing the dependence of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) on foreign [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) supplies.
    - (E) Improving [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) security.
    - (F) Decreasing the environmental impact of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7)-related activities.
    - (G) Increasing the export of renewable generation equipment from the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
  - (2) **Programs—**
    - (A) **Geothermal—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall conduct a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for geothermal [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7). The [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall focus on developing improved technologies for reducing the costs of geothermal [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) installations, including technologies for—
      - (i) improving detection of geothermal resources;
      - (ii) decreasing drilling costs;
      - (iii) decreasing maintenance costs through improved materials;
      - (iv) increasing the potential for other revenue sources, such as mineral production; and
      - (v) increasing the understanding of reservoir life cycle and management.
    - (B) **Hydropower—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall conduct a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for cost competitive technologies that enable the development of new and incremental hydropower capacity, adding to the diversity of the [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) supply of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), including:
      - (i) Fish-friendly large turbines.
      - (ii) Advanced technologies to enhance environmental performance and yield greater [energy efficiencies](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5).
    - (C) **Miscellaneous projects—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall conduct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for—
      - (i) ocean [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), including wave [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7);
      - (ii) the combined use of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) technologies with one another and with other [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) technologies, including the combined use of wind power and coal gasification technologies;
      - (iii) [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) technologies for cogeneration of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) and electricity; and
      - (iv) kinetic hydro turbines.
- (b) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) to carry out [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities, including activities authorized under this part—
  - (1) $632,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
  - (2) $743,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (3) $852,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
  - (4) $963,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
- (c) **Bioenergy—** From the amounts authorized under [subsection (b)](#b), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out [section 16232 of this title](/usc/42/16232.md)—
  - (1) $213,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $100,000,000 shall be for [section 16232(d) of this title](/usc/42/16232.md?p=d);
  - (2) $377,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $125,000,000 shall be for [section 16232(d) of this title](/usc/42/16232.md?p=d);
  - (3) $398,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $150,000,000 shall be for [section 16232(d) of this title](/usc/42/16232.md?p=d); and
  - (4) $419,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $150,000,000 shall be for [section 16232(d) of this title](/usc/42/16232.md?p=d).
- (d) **Administration—** Of the [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) authorized under [subsection (c)](#c), not less than $5,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be made available for grants to—
  - (1) [part B institutions](/usc/42/16182.md?p=4);
  - (2) Tribal Colleges or [Universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) (as defined in [section 1059c(b) of title 20](/usc/20/1059c.md?p=b)); and
  - (3) [Hispanic-serving institutions](/usc/42/16182.md?p=2).
- (e) **Rural demonstration projects—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) of Agriculture, shall demonstrate the use of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) technologies to assist in delivering electricity to rural and remote locations including —
  - (1) advanced wind power technology, including combined use with coal gasification;
  - (2) [biomass](/usc/42/16317.md?p=f-8-C); and
  - (3) geothermal [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) systems.
- (f) **Analysis and evaluation—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall conduct analysis and evaluation in support of the [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this part. These activities shall be used to guide budget and [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) decisions, and shall include—
    - (A) economic and technical analysis of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) potential, including resource assessment;
    - (B) analysis of past [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) performance, both in terms of technical advances and in market introduction of [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2); and
    - (C) any other analysis or evaluation that the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) considers appropriate.
  - (2) **Funding—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) may designate up to 1 percent of the [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) appropriated for carrying out this part for analysis and evaluation activities under this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 931, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 868; Pub. L. 110–140, title II, § 231, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1536; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3006(b)(3), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2512.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3006(b)(3)(A)(i), (ii), redesignated subpars. (C) to (E) as (A) to (C), respectively, and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which related to solar and wind energy programs.

Subsecs. (d) to (g). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3006(b)(3)(B), (C), redesignated subsecs. (e) to (g) as (d) to (f), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to solar power.

2007—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 110–140, § 231(1), added par. (4).

Subsec. (c)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 110–140, § 231(2), in par. (2), substituted “$377,000,000” for “$251,000,000”, in par. (3), substituted “$398,000,000” for “$274,000,000”, and added par. (4).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.