Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 125— - RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS › § 12003
The law sets national goals for making alcohol fuel from plant matter and for other renewable energy programs. It says the main aim is to push research so alcohol from biomass becomes cost-competitive with regular transportation fuels and is used in the fuel market. For ethanol the targets are: lower the price to $0.70 per gallon; raise the conversion efficiency to 91 percent; cut the capital cost part to $0.23 per gallon; and cut the operating and maintenance part to $0.47 per gallon. For methanol the targets are: lower the price to $0.47 per gallon and cut the capital part to $0.16 per gallon. The Secretary must also send Congress, as part of the first report under section 12006, recommendations for 1995 cost and other goals for a list of energy programs (including Biofuels, Biodiesel, Hydrogen, Solar Buildings, Marine, Geothermal, Low-Head Hydro, and Energy Storage). If the Secretary finds a goal is no longer appropriate, the Secretary must tell Congress in a report under section 12006, explain why, and give a revised goal that fits the purpose in section 12001(b). The law also authorizes money for certain renewable energy research and demonstration programs: up to $113,000,000 for fiscal year 1991 (including up to $19,000,000 for Geothermal and up to $4,000,000 for Hydrogen) and up to $121,000,000 for fiscal year 1992 (including up to $20,500,000 for Geothermal and up to $5,000,000 for Hydrogen).
Full Legal Text
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 12003
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73