Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978
Public Law 95-590 · H.R. 12874 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 4, 1978 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. Mike McCormack (D-WA-4)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Olin Teague, Rep. Barry Goldwater
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish programs for researching, developing, and demonstrating solar photovoltaic energy systems with the long-term objective of producing electricity from such systems cost competitive with utility-generated electricty from conventional sources. Authorizes the Secretary to provide up to 75 percent of the purchase and installation costs of such systems or their components.
Requires the Secretary to formulate performance criteria, to be revised annually, for such systems, and requires any photovoltaic component or system procured or installed by the Federal Government or with Federal assistance to conform to such criteria.
Establishes a Solar Photovoltaic Energy Advisory Committee to study: (1) the scope, pace, and peculiar needs of research in solar photovoltaic energy systems; and (2) the economic, technological, and environmental consequences of the use of such systems.
Requires the Secretary to disseminate full and complete information with respect to demonstrations to promote practical use of solar voltaic technologies, but exempts trade secrets and other proprietary information from such public disclosure.
Directs the Secretary to make recommendations to the President and to Congress relating to barriers to the early and widespread utilization of photovoltaic systems, including: (1) the potential for integration of electricity derived from such systems into the existing national grid; (2) the extent of competition between firms currently engaged in the fabrication and installation of such systems as it affects the character and growth potential of the American photovoltaic industry; (3) the need to identify legal alternatives to ensure access to direct sunlight for photovoltaic energy systems; (4) the availability of private capital at reasonable interest rates for individuals and businesses to establish commercial enterprises to manufacture, market, install, and/or, maintain photovoltaic components and systems; (5) the need for industry-wide warranty and reliability standards for photovoltaic energy components and systems for private sector applications; and (6) the attainability of the goals of this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary to encourage international participation and cooperation in the development and maintenance of programs established under this plan.
Requires the Secretary to assure that small business concerns will have realistic and adequate opportunities to participate in the programs under this Act to the maximum extent practicable. Directs the Secretary to set aside at least ten percent of the funds authorized and appropriated for this Act for the participation of small business concerns.
Directs the Secretary to set program priorities according to specified criteria.
Authorizes the appropriation of $125,000,000 for carrying out the provisions of this Act in fiscal year 1979. Provides that authorizations for subsequent years shall be contained in the annual authorization for the Department of Energy.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Nov 4, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-590.
- Oct 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 13, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Oct 10, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 3392.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 29, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 28, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #510 (385-14).House roll call 510
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 9, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- May 25, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.