An act to provide for a research, development, and demonstration program to achieve early technology applications for ocean thermal energy conversion systems, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-310 · H.R. 7474 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jul 17, 1980 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. Don Fuqua (D-FL-2)
Cosponsors (34): Rep. Richard Ottinger, Rep. Robert Roe,
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.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive program management plan of research, development, and demonstration of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress annually the most recent revision of the plan giving justification for any changes. States that any comments and recommendations of the Technical Panel (established under this Act) shall be included in the annual report to Congress.
Directs the Secretary to initiate research or accelerate existing research in areas in which the lack of knowledge limits development of OTEC in order to achieve the purposes of this Act.
Authorizes the Secretary to initiate a program to design, construct, and operate well instrumented OTEC facilities of sufficient size to demonstrate the technical feasibility of utilizing the various forms of OTEC to displace nonrenewable fuels. Provides for the competitive selection of at least two independent parallel pilot demonstration projects. Establishes goals for the demonstration program which shall include: (1) the demonstration of OTEC technical feasibility through multiple pilot demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 100 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent by 1986; (2) the delivery of baseload electricity to utilities located on land or the production of commercially attractive quantities of energy product; and (3) the continuous operation of each pilot demonstration facility for a sufficient period of time to collect and analyze system performance and reliability data.
Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive technology application and market development plan that will permit the realization of the national goal set forth in this Act of 10,000 megawatts of electrical capacity or energy product equivalent from OTEC systems by 1999.
Directs the Secretary to set priorities consistent with several criteria including: (1) the realization of competitive energy costs for OTEC; (2) private cost-sharing; (3) the promotion of OTEC in areas vulnerable to interruptions in the supply of fossil fuel; (4) preference for and priority to persons and domestic firms whose base of operations is in the United States; and (5) preference for projects in which the respondents certify their intent to become an integral part of the industrial infrastructure.
Establishes the Technical Panel of the Energy Research Advisory Board to advise the Board on the conduct of the OTEC program and submit annual reports on the OTEC program to the Board. Directs the Board to submit such report, with any comments, to the Secretary.
Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses for fiscal years 1981 and 1982.
Authorizes appropriations for the conceptual and preliminary design of demonstration plants with a combined capacity of at least 100 megawatts electrical or energy product equivalent.
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. 13 actions.
- Jul 17, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-310.
- Jul 7, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Jul 6, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment.
- Jun 28, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 17, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jun 16, 1980FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 13, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- May 30, 1980CommitteeCommittee · 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.