Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007

Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research and development program to provide lower cost and more viable thermal energy storage technologies to enable the shifting of electric power loads on demand and extend the operating time of concentrating solar power electric generating plants. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

Instructs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on methods to: (1) integrate concentrating solar power into regional electricity transmission systems, identifying new transmission or transmission upgrades needed to bring electricity from high concentrating solar power resource areas to growing electric power load centers throughout the United States; and (2) reduce the amount of water consumed by concentrating solar power systems.

Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a competitive grant program in the Office of Solar Energy Technologies to create and strengthen solar industry workforce training and internship programs in installation, operation, and maintenance of solar energy products; (2) a research and development program to assist in demonstration and commercial application of direct solar renewable energy sources to provide alternatives to traditional power generation for lighting and illumination, including light pipe technology; (3) a research, development, and demonstration program to promote less costly and more reliable decentralized distributed solar-powered air conditioning for individuals and businesses; and (4) a program of grants to states to demonstrate advanced photovoltaic technology.

Authorizes appropriations for all these programs for FY2008-FY2012.

[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2774 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2774

  To support the research, development, and commercial application of 
           solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2007

 Ms. Giffords introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To support the research, development, and commercial application of 
           solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Solar Energy Research and 
Advancement Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy.
            (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

SEC. 3. THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program of 
research and development to provide lower cost and more viable thermal 
energy storage technologies to enable the shifting of electric power 
loads on demand and extend the operating time of concentrating solar 
power electric generating plants.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $5,000,000 
for fiscal year 2008, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $9,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2010, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $12,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 4. CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER COMMERCIAL APPLICATION STUDIES.

    (a) Integration.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on methods to 
integrate concentrating solar power into regional electricity 
transmission systems, and to identify new transmission or transmission 
upgrades needed to bring electricity from high concentrating solar 
power resource areas to growing electric power load centers throughout 
the United States. The study shall analyze and assess approaches for 
management and integration of concentrating solar power into regional 
electric transmission grids to improve electric reliability, to 
efficiently manage load, and to reduce demand on the natural gas 
transmission system for electric power. The Secretary shall submit a 
report to Congress on the results of this study not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Water Consumption.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to 
Congress a report on the results of a study on methods to reduce the 
amount of water consumed by concentrating solar power systems.
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