42 U.S.C. § 9204 — Research, development, and demonstra-

Page 7695 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 9205 TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which a report required under subsec. (c) of this section is listed as the 6th item on page 87), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amend- ed, and section 1(a)(4) [div. A, § 1402(1)] of Pub. L. 106–554, set out as notes under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. § 9204. Research, development, and demonstra- tion (a) Areas of knowledge limiting system utiliza- tion The Secretary shall initiate research and de- velopment or accelerate existing research and development in areas in which the lack of knowledge limits the widespread utilization of wind energy systems in order to achieve the pur- poses of this chapter. (b) Development of system prototypes and im- provements (1) The Secretary shall continue an aggressive program for the development of prototypes of advanced wind energy systems. (2) As often as he deems appropriate, the Sec- retary shall solicit and evaluate proposals for the research and development of any new or im- proved technologies, which, in the Secretary’s opinion, will contribute to the development of improvements in current wind energy systems. (c) Acquisition of economic, scientific, and tech- nological information of system operations under various circumstances and conditions The Secretary is authorized to enter into con- tracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with public and private entities for the purchase, fab- rication, installation, and testing to obtain sci- entific, technological, and economic informa- tion from the demonstration of a variety of pro- totypes of advanced wind energy systems under a variety of circumstances and conditions. (d) Other provisions inapplicable In carrying out the responsibilities under this section, the Secretary is not subject to the re- quirements of section 553 of title 5 or section 7191 of this title. (Pub. L. 96–345, § 5, Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1141.) § 9205. Technology application programs (a) Unit, operating, and maintenance costs The Secretary shall establish a technology ap- plication program for wind energy systems to achieve the purposes of this chapter by reduc- tion in unit costs of wind energy systems through mass production and by determination of operating and maintenance costs through broad operational systems experience. (b) Proposals for Federal assistance In achieving the objectives of this section, the Secretary shall solicit and evaluate proposals for Federal assistance pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (c) for inves- tigating, purchasing, and installing such wind energy systems from public or private entities wishing to utilize wind energy systems. (c) Forms of Federal assistance In achieving the objectives of this section, the Secretary is authorized to use various forms of Federal assistance including, but not limited to— (1) contracts and cooperative agreements; (2) grants; (3) loans; and (4) direct Federal procurement. (d) Quantity production and utilization In carrying out his duties under this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to enter into such contracts and cooperative agreements with any public or private entity as may be necessary or appropriate for the production and utilization of large and small wind energy systems in quan- tities sufficient to achieve the objectives of this section. (e) Procedure for direct grants for large systems; limitation of amount In carrying out his duties under this chapter, the Secretary shall, within six months of Sep- tember 8, 1980, establish procedures to allow any public or private entity wishing to install a large wind energy system to apply for and, upon meeting such terms and conditions as the Sec- retary may prescribe, to receive a direct grant for a portion of the total purchase and installa- tion cost of such wind energy system: Provided, That grants for the portion of such cost in the case of large wind energy systems shall not ex- ceed (A) 50 per centum of such cost during the first six years of the program under this sub- section, and (B) 25 per centum of such cost dur- ing the seventh or eighth year of the program. (f) Procedure for loans for small or large sys- tems; limitation of amount; term; interest; prepayment; other terms and conditions (1) In carrying out his duties under this chap- ter, the Secretary shall, within six months of September 8, 1980, establish procedures to allow public or private entities wishing to install a small or large wind energy system to apply for and, upon meeting such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, to receive loans for up to 75 per centum of the total purchase and in- stallation costs of wind energy systems pro- viding in the aggregate up to three hundred and twenty megawatts peak generating capacity in- volving at a minimum four projects: Provided, That no such loan in any fiscal year shall be for more than 50 per centum of the amount appro- priated under this chapter for such fiscal year. (2) Each loan shall be for a term which the Secretary deems appropriate, but no loan shall exceed twenty years beyond the date the wind energy system becomes operational. (3) Each loan made pursuant to this section shall bear interest at the discount or interest rate used at the time the loan is made for water resource planning projects under section 1962d–17 of this title. Such loan can be prepaid at any time without prepayment penalty and shall be contingent upon such other terms and condi- tions prescribed by the Secretary. (g) Funds for Federal agency systems; projects and activities for technology applications of systems (1) In carrying out his duties under this chap- ter, the Secretary is authorized to provide funds