Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§9210 Analysis of applications of wind energy systems

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 100— - WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS › § 9210

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must start and run a federal study, working with other federal agencies, to find where wind power could be used at federal facilities. The study must find sites where wind is cost-competitive with the marginal costs of new conventional energy in the area. It must identify possible sites and uses at the Department of Defense; the Department of Transportation (including the U.S. Coast Guard, FAA, and Federal Highway Administration); and the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and the Interior, and any other agencies needed. The study must also look at how wide use of wind would affect the electric grid, test real-world performance in many applications (like homes, farms, irrigation pumping, industry, businesses, and remote non-network utilities), and get advice from government, industry, and technical experts. The Secretary must give a preliminary report to Congress within nine months after September 8, 1980, a detailed plan for using wind at federal sites within twelve months after September 8, 1980, recommendations on additional incentives to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Science and Technology within eighteen months after September 8, 1980, and a report on actual wind system performance within two years after September 8, 1980.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §9210

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

The Secretary shall—
(1)initiate and conduct a federal applications study for wind energy systems, cooperatively with appropriate Federal agencies to determine the potential for the use of wind systems at specific Federal facilities; and this study shall—
(A)include an analysis which determines those sites at which wind energy systems are economically competitive with the marginal costs of new conventional energy sources in the areas;
(B)identify potential sites and uses of wind energy systems at the following agencies as well as any others which the Secretary deems necessary:
(i)the Department of Defense;
(ii)the Department of Transportation (including the United States Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration);
(iii)the Department of Commerce;
(iv)the Department of Agriculture; and
(v)the Department of the Interior;
(C)provide a preliminary report to the Congress within nine months after September 8, 1980; and
(D)include the presentation of a detailed plan for the use of wind energy systems for power generation at specific sites in Federal Government agencies to the Congress within twelve months after September 8, 1980;
(2)study the effects, at varying levels of market penetration, of the widespread utilization of wind energy systems on the existing electrical utility system;
(3)determine the necessity for, and make recommendations to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives within eighteen months after September 8, 1980, on, the need for any additional incentives for either users or manufacturers, in each of the potential markets for wind energy systems, to accelerate the widespread utilization of wind energy technologies;
(4)evaluate the actual performance of wind energy systems in various applications, including but not limited to residential, agricultural, large and small scale irrigation pumping, industrial, commercial, remote nonnetwork utility, and other applications, and report thereon to the Congress within two years after September 8, 1980; and
(5)in carrying out his functions under this section, consult with the appropriate government agencies, industry representatives, and members of the scientific and technical community having expertise and interest in this subject.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1986—Pars. (5), (6). Pub. L. 99–386 redesignated par. (6) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “initiate and conduct a study involving the prospects for applications of wind energy systems for power generation in foreign countries, particularly lesser developed countries and the potential for the exploration of these energy systems. This study shall involve the cooperation of the Department of State and the Department of Commerce, as well as other Federal agencies which the Secretary deems appropriate. A final report shall be submitted to the Congress, as well as a preliminary report within twelve months of September 8, 1980; and”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 9210

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73