---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17171"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17171"
heading: "Thermal energy storage research and development program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17171"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter V — Accelerated Research and Development"
  - "Part A — Solar Energy"
---

# §17171. Thermal energy storage research and development program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall establish a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research and development to provide lower cost and more viable thermal energy storage technologies to enable the shifting of electric power loads on demand and extend the operating time of concentrating solar power electric generating plants.
- (b) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) for carrying out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 602, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1674.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

### Short Title

This part known as the “Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007”, see Short Title note set out under section 17001 of this title.