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H.R. 4211 96th Congress House

Omnibus Solar Energy Commercialization Act of 1979

Official title: A bill to establish a national goal for the use of renewable energy resources, to establish information and financial initiatives to promote the use of renewab… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to establish a national goal for the use of renewable energy resources, to establish information and financial initiatives to promote the use of renewable energy resources, and to authorize the use of certain renewable energy resources by the Federal Government.

Introduced: May 23, 1979 See on congress.gov
Energy Alcohol and Alcoholic BeveragesAlcohol as fuelAlternative energy sourcesAutomobile fuel consumption
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Building constructionBusiness and commerceConstruction industriesCorporations and StocksDepartment of EnergyDepartment of the InteriorEnergy efficiencyEnergy facilitiesEnergy policyExecutive reorganizationFederal office buildingsFederal-state relationsFederally-assisted loansFinance and Financial SectorGasolineGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment corporationsGovernment records, documents, and informationHome repair and improvementHousing and Housing FinanceInformation servicesMotor Vehicles and DrivingMotor vehiclesOffice buildingsService stationsSolar energySubsidiesWind power
This bill died when the 96th Congress ended
It never became law before the 96th Congress (1979–1980) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Government Operations.
May 23, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs.
May 23, 1979
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 23, 1979

Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Omnibus Solar Energy Commercialization Act of 1979 - Establishes a national goal for the increased use of renewable energy resources as a part of the Nation's total energy supply in the year 2000.

Defines the term "passive solar energy system" to mean space heating and cooling systems making the most efficient use of, or enhancing the use of, natural forces including solar insulation, winds, nighttime coolness, and cooling by radiation to the night sky, to heat or cool living space by the use of conductive, convective or radiant energy transfer. Describes several types of passive solar energy systems.

States that it shall be the policy of the Secretary of Energy to utilize State and local government organizations, Energy Extension Services, regional Solar Energy Research Centers, and other such entities in providing information services, training, education and other services to the public and to persons involved in the development and commercialization of solar energy systems.

Directs the Secretary to establish the Solar Heating and Cooling Information Center to provide information services to the public and to the entities listed above, including: (1) retrieval and dissemination of solar energy development and commercialization materials; (2) development of materials specifically designed to assist architects, builders, installers, manufacturers and others involved in solar energy development and commercialization; and (3) development of training and education programs specifically designed for such purposes.

Directs Federal agency heads responsible for construction of new civilian Federal buildings to require the utilization of active and passive solar energy systems unless it is determined that such systems are not cost effective, according to a specified formula.

Directs the head of each Federal agency operating a fueling station for civilian gasoline motor vehicles to require that such stations only dispense a ten percent alcohol and gasoline mixture. Requires that the same alcohol-gasoline mixture be dispensed by retail gasoline supply outlets operated by Federal agencies.

Authorizes the Administrators of the Alaska Power Administration, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Western Area Power Administration to purchase power from proposed non-federally constructed generating facilities utilizing renewable energy resources. Authorizes such Administrators to construct and operate non-hydroelectric generating facilities, provided that the Administrator has made a public offer to purchase or guarantee the purchase of power from a comparable non-federally constructed facility and has received no offer from a non-Federal entity to construct such a facility.

Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Energy a Solar Energy Development Corporation with the same corporate powers given the Government National Mortgage Association. Sets forth the purposes of the Solar Corporation to provide financial initiatives to promote the use of renewable energy resources, including subsidies of long-term, low-interest loans. Sets forth terms and conditions of and limits on the amount of such loans.

Amends the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 to include within the definition of "weatherization materials" materials associated with passive and active solar energy systems.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4211: Omnibus Solar Energy Commercialization Act of 1979. 96th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4211/
MLA
"H.R. 4211: Omnibus Solar Energy Commercialization Act of 1979." 96th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4211/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4211, 96th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4211/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4211: Omnibus Solar Energy Commercialization Act of 1979](https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-4211/)
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