Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§12001 Finding, purpose, and general authority

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 125— - RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS › § 12001

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to run a strong national program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial use of renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies to help keep U.S. energy supplies safe and reliable. The program aims to make these technologies cost-competitive without federal subsidies, set long-term research goals and multiyear funding, help private companies bring the technologies to market soon, and support joint public–private demonstration and commercial projects. The Secretary must carry out the program with the private sector under section 13541, follow the goals in section 12003, and do demonstration and commercial projects as described in section 12005.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §12001

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Congress finds that it is in the national security and economic interest of the United States to foster greater efficiency in the use of available energy supplies and greater use of renewable energy technologies.
(b)It is the purpose of this chapter to authorize the Secretary of Energy, acting in accordance with section 13541 of this title, to pursue an aggressive national program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in order to ensure a stable and secure future energy supply by—
(1)achieving as soon as practicable cost competitive use of those technologies without need of Federal financial incentives;
(2)establishing long-term Federal research goals and multiyear funding levels;
(3)directing the Secretary to undertake initiatives to improve the ability of the private sector to commercialize in the near term renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; and
(4)fostering collaborative efforts involving the private sector through government support of a program of demonstration and commercial application projects.
(c)The Secretary, acting in accordance with section 13541 of this title, is authorized and directed to—
(1)pursue a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application with the private sector, to achieve the purpose of this chapter, including the goals established under section 12003 of this title; and
(2)undertake demonstration and commercial application projects as provided in section 12005 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–218, Dec. 11, 1989, 103 Stat. 1859, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note below and Tables.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–486, § 1202(d)(1), substituted “section 13541 of this title” for “authority contained in the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5901–5920) and other law applicable to the Secretary” and “demonstration, and commercial application” for “and demonstration”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–486, § 1202(d)(2), substituted “efforts” for “research and development efforts” and “demonstration and commercial application projects” for “joint ventures”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–486, § 1202(d)(3), substituted “section 13541 of this title, is authorized and directed to—” and pars. (1) and (2) for “the authority contained in the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5901–5920) and other law applicable to the Secretary— “(1) is authorized and directed to— “(A) pursue a program of research, development, and demonstration, including the use of joint ventures with the private sector, to achieve the purpose of this chapter, including the goals established under section 12003 of this title; and “(B) undertake joint ventures as provided in section 12005 of this title; and “(2) is authorized to undertake, from time to time, joint ventures in technology areas other than those set forth in section 12005(c) of this title, subject to the conditions set forth in section 12005(b) of this title.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 101–218, § 1, Dec. 11, 1989, 103 Stat. 1859, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 6276 and 8243 of this title, section 2857 of Title 10, Armed Forces, and section 2194 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse] may be referred to as the ‘Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 12001

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73