Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 128 — Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Program
§ 12403. Hydrogen research and development
Statutory text
Program
The Secretary shall conduct a hydrogen research and development program relating to production, storage, transportation, and use of hydrogen, with the goal of enabling the private sector to demonstrate the technical feasibility of using hydrogen for industrial, residential, transportation, and utility applications.
Research
In conducting the program authorized by this section, the Secretary shall—
give particular attention to developing an understanding and resolution of critical technical issues preventing the introduction of hydrogen into the marketplace;
initiate or accelerate existing research in critical technical issues that will contribute to the development of more economic hydrogen production and use, including, but not limited to, critical technical issues with respect to production (giving priority to those production techniques that use renewable energy resources as their primary source of energy for hydrogen production), liquefaction, transmission, distribution, storage, and use (including use of hydrogen in surface transportation); and
survey private sector hydrogen activities and take steps to ensure that research and development activities under this section do not displace or compete with the privately funded hydrogen research and development activities of United States industry.
Innovative energy technologies
The Secretary is authorized to evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology, including basic research on highly innovative energy technologies, that could lead or contribute to the development of economic hydrogen production, storage, and utilization.
Renewable energy systems; hybrid systems
The Secretary is authorized to evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology that could lead or contribute to, or demonstrate the use of, advanced renewable energy systems or hybrid systems for use in isolated communities that currently import diesel fuel as the primary fuel for electric power production.
Information
The Secretary is authorized to arrange for tests and demonstrations and to disseminate to researchers and developers information, data, and other materials necessary to support the research and development activities authorized under this section and other efforts authorized under this chapter, consistent with section 12405 of this title.
Federal funding
The Secretary shall carry out the research and development activities authorized under this section only through the funding of research and development proposals submitted by interested persons according to such procedures as the Secretary may require and evaluate on a competitive basis using peer review. Such funding shall be in the form of a grant agreement, procurement contract, or cooperative agreement (as those terms are used in chapter 63 of title 31).
Non-Federal funding
The Secretary shall not consider a proposal submitted by a person from industry unless the proposal contains a certification that reasonable efforts to obtain non-Federal funding for the entire cost of the project have been made, and that such non-Federal funding could not be reasonably obtained. As appropriate, the Secretary shall require a commitment from non-Federal sources of at least 50 percent of the cost of the development portion of such a proposal.
Prohibition on duplicative efforts
The Secretary shall not carry out any activities under this section that unnecessarily duplicate activities carried out elsewhere by the Federal Government or industry.
Federal funding consistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
The Secretary shall establish, after consultation with other Federal agencies, terms and conditions under which Federal funding will be provided under this chapter that are consistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures referred to in section 3511(d)(12) of title 19.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1990
Pub. L. 101–566 § 104 · 104 Stat. 2797
Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 12403
Pub. L. 101–566, § 104, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2798
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 101–566, § 104, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2798Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 104. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. (a) Program.— The Secretary shall conduct a research and development program, consistent with the comprehensive 5-year program management plan under section 103, to ensure the development of a domestic hydrogen fuel production capability within the shortest time practicable consistent with market conditions. (b) Research.— (1) Particular attention shall be given to developing an understanding and resolution of all critical technical issues preventing the introduction of hydrogen into the marketplace. (2) The Secretary shall initiate research or accelerate existing research in critical technical issues that will contribute to the development of more economic hydrogen production and use, including, but not limited to, critical technical issues with respect to production, liquefaction, transmission, distribution, storage, and use (including use of hydrogen in surface transportation). (c) Renewable Energy Priority.— The Secretary shall give priority to those production techniques that use renewable energy resources as their primary source of energy for hydrogen production. (d) New Technologies.— The Secretary shall, for the purpose of performing his responsibilities pursuant to this Act, solicit proposals for and evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology that could lead or contribute to the development of economic hydrogen production storage and utilization. (e) Information.— The Secretary shall conduct evaluations, arrange for tests and demonstrations, and disseminate to developers information, data, and materials necessary to support efforts undertaken pursuant to this section, consistent with section 106.Hydrogen Future Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–271 title I § 103(a) · 110 Stat. 3304
Amended · 42 U.S.C. § 12403
Pub. L. 104–271 amended section generally
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 12403
Pub. L. 104–271 substituting present provisions for provisions which stated in subsec. (a) the Secretary was to conduct a research and development program for development of a domestic hydrogen fuel production capability; subsec. (b) attention was to be given to research of critical technical issues; subsec. (c) renewable energy priority; subsec. (d) new technologies; and subsec. (e) gathering and dissemination of information to support research and development efforts
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 104–271 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which stated in subsec. (a) the Secretary was to conduct a research and development program for development of a domestic hydrogen fuel production capability; subsec. (b) attention was to be given to research of critical technical issues; subsec. (c) renewable energy priority; subsec. (d) new technologies; and subsec. (e) gathering and dissemination of information to support research and development efforts.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Section 104 of Public Law 101–566 (42 U.S.C. 12403) is amended to read as follows: “§ 104. Hydrogen research and development “(a) The Secretary shall conduct a hydrogen research and development program relating to production, storage, transportation, and use of hydrogen, with the goal of enabling the private sector to demonstrate the technical feasibility of using hydrogen for industrial, residential, transportation, and utility applications. “(b) In conducting the program authorized by this section, the Secretary shall— “(1) give particular attention to developing an understanding and resolution of critical technical issues preventing the introduction of hydrogen into the marketplace; “(2) initiate or accelerate existing research in critical technical issues that will contribute to the development of more economic hydrogen production and use, including, but not limited to, critical technical issues with respect to production (giving priority to those production techniques that use renewable energy resources as their primary source of energy for hydrogen production), liquefaction, transmission, distribution, storage, and use (including use of hydrogen in surface transportation); and “(3) survey private sector hydrogen activities and take steps to ensure that research and development activities under this section do not displace or compete with the privately funded hydrogen research and development activities of United States industry. “(c) The Secretary is authorized to evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology, including basic research on highly innovative energy technologies, that could lead or contribute to the development of economic hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. “(d) The Secretary is authorized to evaluate any reasonable new or improved technology that could lead or contribute to, or demonstrate the use of, advanced renewable energy systems or hybrid systems for use in isolated communities that currently import diesel fuel as the primary fuel for electric power production. “(e) The Secretary is authorized to arrange for tests and demonstrations and to disseminate to researchers and developers information, data, and other materials necessary to support the research and development activities authorized under this section and other efforts authorized under this chapter, consistent with section 106 of this Act. “(f) The Secretary shall carry out the research and development activities authorized under this section only through the funding of research and development proposals submitted by interested persons according to such procedures as the Secretary may require and evaluate on a competitive basis using peer review. Such funding shall be in the form of a grant agreement, procurement contract, or cooperative agreement (as those terms are used in chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code). “(g) The Secretary shall not consider a proposal submitted by a person from industry unless the proposal contains a certification that reasonable efforts to obtain non-Federal funding for the entire cost of the project have been made, and that such non- Federal funding could not be reasonably obtained. As appropriate, the Secretary shall require a commitment from non-Federal sources of at least 50 percent of the cost of the development portion of such a proposal. “(h) The Secretary shall not carry out any activities under this section that unnecessarily duplicate activities carried out elsewhere by the Federal Government or industry. “(i) The Secretary shall establish, after consultation with other Federal agencies, terms and conditions under which Federal funding will be provided under this chapter that are consistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures referred to in section 101(d)(12) of the Uruguay Round Agreement Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(12)).”.
3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–271 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which stated in subsec. (a) the Secretary was to conduct a research and development program for development of a domestic hydrogen fuel production capability; subsec. (b) attention was to be given to research of critical technical issues; subsec. (c) renewable energy priority; subsec. (d) new technologies; and subsec. (e) gathering and dissemination of information to support research and development efforts.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Fuel Cells
Pub. L. 104–271, title II, , 110 Stat. 3307, provided that:
“SEC. 201. INTEGRATION OF FUEL CELLS WITH HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.
“(a) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section [], and subject to the availability of appropriations made specifically for this section, the Secretary of Energy shall solicit proposals for projects to prove the feasibility of integrating fuel cells with—
“(1) photovoltaic systems for hydrogen production; or
“(2) systems for hydrogen production from solid waste via gasification or steam reforming.
“(b) Each proposal submitted in response to the solicitation under this section shall be evaluated on a competitive gas is [basis] using peer review. The Secretary is not required to make an award under this section in the absence of a meritorious proposals. [sic]
“(c) The Secretary shall give preference, in making an award under this section, to proposals that—
“(1) are submitted jointly from consortia including academic institutions, industry, State or local governments, and Federal laboratories; and
“(2) reflect proven experience and capability with technologies relevant to the systems described in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2).
“(d) In the case of a proposal involving development or demonstration, the Secretary shall require a commitment from non-Federal sources of at least 50 percent of the cost of the development or demonstration portion of the proposal.
“(e) The Secretary shall establish, after consultation with other Federal agencies, terms and conditions under which Federal funding will be provided under this title that are consistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures referred to in section 101(d)(12) of the Uruguay Round Agreement Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(12)).
“SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
“There are authorized to be appropriated, for activities under this section [title], a total of $50,000,000 for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, to remain available until .”
Credits
1990–1996 · 2 acts
- 1990Pub. L. 101–566, § 104, , 104 Stat. 2798
- 1996Pub. L. 104–271, title I, § 103(a), , 110 Stat. 3305.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 101–566, § 104, , 104 Stat. 2798; Pub. L. 104–271, title I, § 103(a), , 110 Stat. 3305.)