---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16123"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16123"
heading: "Federal procurement of stationary, portable, and micro fuel cells"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16123"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter VII — Vehicles and Fuels"
  - "Part E — Federal and State Procurement"
---

# §16123. Federal procurement of stationary, portable, and micro fuel cells

- (a) **Purposes—** The purposes of this section are—
  - (1) to stimulate acceptance by the market of [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), and micro [fuel cells](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1); and
  - (2) to support development of technologies relating to [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), and micro [fuel cells](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1).
- (b) **Federal leases and purchases—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than January 1, 2006, the head of any Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that uses electrical power from [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or microportable devices shall lease or purchase a [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or micro [fuel cell](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1) to meet any applicable energy savings goal described in [subsection (c)](#c).
  - (2) **Costs of leases and purchases—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4), in cooperation with the [Task Force](/usc/42/16121.md?p=4) and the [Technical Advisory Committee](/usc/42/16121.md?p=5), shall pay the cost to Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) (or share the cost under interagency agreements) of leasing or purchasing [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), and micro [fuel cells](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1) under [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
    - (B) **Competitive costs and management structures—** In carrying out [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4), in consultation with the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), may use the General Services Administration or any commercial vendor to ensure—
      - (i) a cost-effective purchase of a [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or micro [fuel cell](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1); or
      - (ii) a cost-effective management structure of the lease of a [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or micro [fuel cell](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Exception—**
    - (A) **In general—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) determines that the head of an [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) cannot find an appropriately efficient and reliable [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or micro [fuel cell](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1) in accordance with [paragraph (1)](#b-1), that [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) shall be excepted from compliance with [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
    - (B) **Consideration—** In making a determination under [subparagraph (A)](#b-3-A), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall consider—
      - (i) the needs of the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
      - (ii) an evaluation performed by—
        - (I) the [Task Force](/usc/42/16121.md?p=4); or
        - (II) the [Technical Advisory Committee](/usc/42/16121.md?p=5) of the [Task Force](/usc/42/16121.md?p=4).
- (c) **Energy savings goals—** An [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that leases or purchases a [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), or micro [fuel cell](/usc/42/16121.md?p=1) in accordance with [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) may use that lease or purchase to count toward an energy savings goal described in [section 16157 of this title](/usc/42/16157.md) that is applicable to the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
  - (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
  - (2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
  - (3) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (4) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
  - (5) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
  - (6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 783, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 837.)