§13313 Renewable Energy Advancement Awards

Summary

The Secretary must give Renewable Energy Advancement Awards to honor projects that help use biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, photovoltaic (solar panels), solar thermal, ocean thermal, and wind energy in homes, utilities, or industry. Most awards must include money, but if there is not enough funding in a year the Secretary can give honorary awards instead. The Secretary and an advisory committee will pick winners using rules that look at how much the work increases renewable energy use, how many people it helps or how much money it saves, how creative the idea is, export potential, and its environmental soundness. Awards start in fiscal year 1994 and are given each year for 10 years. Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or U.S.-based nonfederal organizations can win. Congress authorized $50,000 for each of fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996 to run the program.