94 STAT. 1140
PUBLIC LAW 96-345—SEPT. 8, 1980
(10) the evaluation of the performance and reliability of wind energy technologies can be expedited by the testing of prototypes under carefully controlled conditions; (11) innovation and creativity in the development of components and systems for converting wind energy into electricity and mechanical energy can be fostered through encouraging direct contact between the manufacturers of such components and systems and utilities and other persons interested in utilizing such components and systems; and (12) consistent with the findings of the Domestic Policy Review on Solar Energy, wind energy can potentially contribute 1.7 quads of energy per year by the year 2000. (b) It is declared to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to establish during the next eight years an aggressive research, development, demonstration, and technology applications program for converting wind energy into electricity and mechanical energy. It is declared to be the further policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act that the objectives of such program are— (1) to reduce the average cost of electricity produced by installed wind energy systems, by the end of fiscal year 1988, to a level competitive with conventional energy sources; (2) to reach a total megawatt capacity in the United States from wind energy systems, by the end of fiscal year 1988, of at least eight hundred megawatts, of which at least one hundred megawatts are provided by small wind energy systems; and (3) to accelerate the growth of a commercially viable and competitive industry to make wind energy systems available to the general public as an option in order to reduce national consumption of fossil fuel. DEFINITIONS
42 USC 9202.
SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act— (1) the term "wind energy system" means a system of components which converts the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity or mechanical power, and which comprises all necessary components, including energy storage, power conditioning, control systems, and transmission systems, where appropriate, to provide electricity or mechanical power for individual, residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, utility, or governmental use; (2) the term "small wind energy system" means a wind energy system having a maximum rated capacity of one hundred kilowatts or less; (3) the term "large wind energy system" means a wind energy system which is not a small wind energy system; (4) the term "public and private entity' means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, agricultural cooperative, public- or investor-owned utility, public or private institution or group, any State or local government agency, or any other domestic entity; (5) the term "known wind resource" means a site with an estimated average annual wind velocity of at least twelve miles per hour; (6) the term "conventional energy source" means energy produced from oil, gas, coal, and nuclear fuels; and (7) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy.
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