42 U.S.C. § 13314 — Study of tax and rate treatment of re-

Page 8547 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 13315 (b) Purpose The purpose of the program established under this section shall be to train appropriate persons in the system design, operation, and mainte- nance of renewable energy and energy efficiency equipment manufactured in the United States, including equipment for water pumping, heating and purification, and the production of electric power in remote areas. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996, to carry out this section. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XII, § 1203, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2961.) § 13313. Renewable Energy Advancement Awards (a) Authority The Secretary shall make Renewable Energy Advancement Awards in recognition of develop- ments that advance the practical application of biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, photo- voltaic, solar thermal, ocean thermal, and wind technologies to consumer, utility, or industrial uses, in accordance with this section. Except as provided in subsection (f), Renewable Energy Advancement Awards shall include a cash award. (b) Selection criteria The Secretary, in consultation with the Advi- sory Committee on Demonstration and Commer- cial Application of Renewable Energy and En- ergy Efficiency Technologies (in this section re- ferred to as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’), under section 12005 of this title, shall develop criteria to be applied in the selection of award recipients under this section. Such criteria shall include the following: (1) The degree to which the technological de- velopment increases the utilization of renew- able energy. (2) The degree to which the development will have a significant impact, by benefitting a large number of people, by reducing the costs of an important industrial process or commer- cial product or service, or otherwise. (3) The ingenuity of the development. (4) Whether the application has significant export potential. (5) The environmental soundness of the de- velopment. (c) Selection Beginning in fiscal year 1994, and annually thereafter for a period of 10 years, the Sec- retary, in consultation with the Advisory Com- mittee, shall select developments described in subsection (a) that are worthy of receiving an award under this section, and shall make such awards. (d) Eligibility Awards may be made under this section only to individuals who are United States nationals or permanent resident aliens, or to non-Federal organizations that are organized under the laws of the United States or the laws of a State of the United States. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $50,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996 for carrying out this section. (f) Awards made in absence of appropriations The Secretary shall make honorary awards under this section if sufficient funds are not available for financial awards in any fiscal year. (Pub. L. 102–486, title XII, § 1204, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2961.) § 13314. Study of tax and rate treatment of re- newable energy projects (a) The Secretary, in conjunction with State regulatory commissions, shall undertake a study to determine if conventional taxation and ratemaking procedures result in economic bar- riers to or incentives for renewable energy power plants compared to conventional power plants. (b) Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the study undertaken under subsection (a). (Pub. L. 102–486, title XII, § 1205, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2962.) § 13315. Data system and energy technology eval- uation The Secretary of Commerce, in his or her role as a member of the interagency working group established under section 6276 of this title, shall— (1) develop a comprehensive data base and information dissemination system, using the National Trade Data Bank and the Commer- cial Information Management System of the Department of Commerce, that will provide information on the specific energy technology needs of foreign countries, and the technical and economic competitiveness of various re- newable energy and energy efficiency products and technologies; (2) make such information available to in- dustry, Federal and multilateral lending agen- cies, nongovernmental organizations, host- country and donor-agency officials, and such others as the Secretary of Commerce considers necessary; and (3) prepare and transmit to the Congress not later than June 1, 1993, and biennially there- after, a comprehensive report evaluating the full range of energy and environmental tech- nologies necessary to meet the energy needs of foreign countries, including— (A) information on the specific energy needs of foreign countries; (B) an inventory of United States tech- nologies and services to meet those needs; (C) an update on the status of ongoing bi- lateral and multilateral programs which promote United States exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and technologies; and (D) an evaluation of current programs (and recommendations for future programs) that develop and promote energy efficiency and sustainable use of indigenous renewable en-