Photovoltaic panels at Oberlin College's Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental studies; the panes cover 4,682 square feet on the buildings south-facing curved roof. (Source: NREL)

The United States Congress enacted the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Act of 2001 in an attempt to accelerate growth of the commercial photovoltaic industry. Under the Act, the General Services Administration (GSA) was directed to provide for the procurement of photovoltaic (PV) solar electric systems for use in new and existing federal buildings. The GSA established a PV energy commercialization program to procure and install PV technology with the goal of establishing 20,000 solar systems in federal buildings by 2010. The GSA is responsible for dictating the rules and regulations for monitoring and assessing the performance and operation of the installed PVs, and for submitting an annual report on the program's achievements. To ensure the best performance from the PV systems, the GSA is enabled access to the most advanced technology available. Through this Act, the Photovoltaic Energy Commercialization Program receives US$210,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006, and the Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Program receives US$52,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

Further Reading

• Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Act (The Library of Congress)
• A Bill to Establish a Comprehensive National Energy Conservation Policy (The Library of Congress)

Photovoltaic panels at Oberlin College's Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental studies; the panes cover 4,682 square feet on the buildings south-facing curved roof. (Source: NREL)

The United States Congress enacted the Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Act of 2001 in an attempt to accelerate growth of the commercial photovoltaic industry. Under the Act, the General Services Administration (GSA) was directed to provide for the procurement of photovoltaic (PV) solar electric systems for use in new and existing federal buildings. The GSA established a PV energy commercialization program to procure and install PV technology with the goal of establishing 20,000 solar systems in federal buildings by 2010. The GSA is responsible for dictating the rules and regulations for monitoring and assessing the performance and operation of the installed PVs, and for submitting an annual report on the program's achievements. To ensure the best performance from the PV systems, the GSA is enabled access to the most advanced technology available. Through this Act, the Photovoltaic Energy Commercialization Program receives US$210,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006, and the Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Program receives US$52,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

Further Reading

• Federal Photovoltaic Utilization Act (The Library of Congress)
• A Bill to Establish a Comprehensive National Energy Conservation Policy (The Library of Congress)