---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16157"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16157"
heading: "Demonstration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16157"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Hydrogen"
---

# §16157. Demonstration

- (a) **In general—** In carrying out the programs under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall fund a limited number of demonstration [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12), consistent with this subchapter and a determination of the maturity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impacts of technologies supporting each [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12). In selecting [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall, to the extent practicable and in the public interest, select [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) that—
  - (1) involve using [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) and related products at existing facilities or installations, such as existing office buildings, military bases, vehicle [fleet](/usc/42/16131.md?p=5) centers, transit bus authorities, or units of the National Park System;
  - (2) depend on reliable power from [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) to carry out essential activities;
  - (3) lead to the replication of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) technologies and draw such technologies into the marketplace;
  - (4) include vehicle, [portable](/usc/42/16152.md?p=6), and [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3) demonstrations of [fuel cell](/usc/42/16152.md?p=2) and [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1)-based energy technologies;
  - (5) address the interdependency of demand for [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) [fuel cell](/usc/42/16152.md?p=2) applications and [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) fuel [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4);
  - (6) raise awareness of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) technology among the public;
  - (7) facilitate identification of an optimum technology among competing alternatives;
  - (8) address distributed generation using renewable sources;
  - (9) carry out demonstrations of evolving [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) and [fuel cell](/usc/42/16152.md?p=2) technologies in national parks, remote island areas, and on Indian tribal land, as selected by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4);
  - (10) carry out a program to demonstrate developmental [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) and [fuel cell](/usc/42/16152.md?p=2) systems for mobile, [portable](/usc/42/16152.md?p=6), and [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3) uses, using improved versions of the learning demonstrations program concept of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) including demonstrations involving—
    - (A) [light-duty vehicles](/usc/42/16152.md?p=5);
    - (B) [heavy-duty vehicles](/usc/42/16152.md?p=3);
    - (C) [fleet](/usc/42/16131.md?p=5) vehicles;
    - (D) specialty industrial and farm vehicles; and
    - (E) commercial and residential [portable](/usc/42/16152.md?p=6), continuous, and backup electric power generation;
  - (11) in accordance with any code or standards developed in a region, fund prototype, pilot [fleet](/usc/42/16131.md?p=5), and [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4) regional [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) supply corridors along the interstate highway system in varied climates across the United States; and
  - (12) fund demonstration programs that explore the use of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) blends, hybrid [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1), and [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) reformed from renewable agricultural fuels, including the use of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) in hybrid electric, heavier duty, and advanced internal combustion-powered vehicles.

  The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall give preference to [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) which address multiple elements contained in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) through [(12)](#a-12).

- (b) **System demonstrations—**
  - (1) **1 In general—** As a component of the demonstration program under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall provide grants, on a cost share basis as appropriate, to [eligible entities](/usc/42/16131.md?p=3) (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4)) for use in—
    - (A) devising system design concepts that provide for the use of advanced composite vehicles in programs under [section 16122 of this title](/usc/42/16122.md) that—
      - (i) have as a primary goal the reduction of drive energy requirements;
      - (ii) after 2010, add another research and development phase, as defined in [subsection (c)](#c), including the vehicle and [infrastructure](/usc/42/16152.md?p=4) partnerships developed under the learning demonstrations program concept of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1); and
      - (iii) are managed through an enhanced FreedomCAR program within the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) that encourages involvement in cost-shared [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) by manufacturers and governments; and
    - (B) designing a local distributed energy system that—
      - (i) incorporates renewable [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) production, off-grid electricity production, and [fleet](/usc/42/16131.md?p=5) applications in industrial or commercial service;
      - (ii) integrates energy or applications described in [clause (i)](#b-1-B-i), such as [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3), [portable](/usc/42/16152.md?p=6), micro, and mobile [fuel cells](/usc/42/16152.md?p=2), into a high-density commercial or residential building complex or agricultural community; and
      - (iii) is managed in cooperation with industry, [State](/usc/42/15951.md?p=b-2), tribal, and local governments, agricultural organizations, and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) generators and distributors of electricity.
- (c) **Identification of new program requirements—** In carrying out the demonstrations under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4), in consultation with the [Task Force](/usc/42/16152.md?p=7) and the [Technical Advisory Committee](/usc/42/16152.md?p=8), shall—
  - (1) after 2008 for [stationary](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3) and [portable](/usc/42/16152.md?p=6) applications, and after 2010 for vehicles, identify new requirements that refine technological concepts, planning, and applications; and
  - (2) during the second phase of the learning demonstrations under [subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii)](#b-1-A-ii), redesign subsequent program work to incorporate those requirements.
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
  - (1) $185,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
  - (2) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
  - (3) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (4) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
  - (5) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
  - (6) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2020.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VIII, § 808, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 850.)