§8243 Duties of Secretary

Summary

The Secretary, working with the General Services Administration, must make rules that force federal agencies to send in plans for putting solar equipment on federal buildings they control. The rules must say how buildings are chosen and how plans are judged. Each plan must include a present-value cost‑benefit analysis, show new and varied ways to use solar heating and cooling, and prefer demo sites where a private solar market could grow. The Secretary must write a short evaluation for each plan, give technical and financial help for approved plans (limited to design, buying, building, and installing the equipment), require periodic reports on how the equipment is run and kept, and require a life‑cycle cost analysis under part B. If the solar choice is not the cheapest life‑cycle option, the agency must report how much more it costs. Plans must list the specific buildings, the money needed, a schedule, maintenance costs, estimated fuel and electricity savings, estimated payback time, and any other items the Secretary asks for. First plans must be sent within 180 days after the rule is made. The Secretary must also run an outreach program with site visits and briefings for federal procurement and loan officers, using available funds.