---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 8243"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "8243"
heading: "Duties of Secretary"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/8243"
units:
  - "Chapter 91 — National Energy Conservation Policy"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal Energy Initiative"
  - "Part A — Demonstration of Solar Heating and Cooling in Federal Buildings"
---

# §8243. Duties of Secretary

- (a) **Duties—** In exercising the authority provided by [section 8242 of this title](/usc/42/8242.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6), in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the General Services Administration, shall—
  - (1) promulgate, by rule—
    - (A) requirements under which [Federal agencies](/usc/42/8241.md?p=1) shall submit proposals for the installation of [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5) in [Federal buildings](/usc/42/8241.md?p=2) which are under their control and which are selected in accordance with procedures set forth in such rule, and
    - (B) criteria by which proposals under [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A) will be evaluated, which criteria shall provide for the inclusion in each proposal of a complete analysis of the present value, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6), of the costs and benefits of the proposal to the [Federal agency](/usc/42/8241.md?p=1), and for the demonstration, to the maximum extent practicable, of innovative and diverse applications to a variety of types of [Federal buildings](/usc/42/8241.md?p=2) of [solar heating](/usc/42/8241.md?p=3) and [solar heating and cooling](/usc/42/8241.md?p=4) technology, and for location of demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in areas where a private sector market for [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5) is likely to develop;
  - (2) evaluate in writing each such proposal pursuant to the criteria promulgated pursuant to [paragraph (1)(B)](#a-1-B), and make such evaluation available to the [agency](/usc/42/8259.md?p=1) and, upon request, to any person;
  - (3) provide technical and financial assistance by interagency agreement for implementing a proposal evaluated under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6); except that such assistance shall be limited to the design, acquisition, [construction](/usc/42/8259.md?p=2), and installation of [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5);
  - (4) provide, by rule, that [Federal agencies](/usc/42/8241.md?p=1) report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6) periodically such information as they acquire respecting maintenance and operation of [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5) for which assistance is provided under [paragraph (3)](#a-3);
  - (5) require that a [life cycle cost](/usc/42/8259.md?p=7) analysis in accordance with part B be done for any [Federal building](/usc/42/8241.md?p=2) for which a proposal is submitted under this section and the results of such analysis be included in such proposal; and
  - (6) if [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5) for which assistance is to be provided under [paragraph (3)](#a-3) is not the minimum [life-cycle](/usc/42/17061.md?p=14) cost alternative, require the [Federal agency](/usc/42/8241.md?p=1) involved to submit a report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6) stating the amount by which the [life-cycle](/usc/42/17061.md?p=14) cost of such equipment exceeds the minimum [life-cycle](/usc/42/17061.md?p=14) cost.
- (b) **Contents of proposals—** Proposals under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) of subsection (a) shall include a list of the specific [Federal buildings](/usc/42/8241.md?p=2) proposed to be provided with [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5), the funds necessary for the acquisition and installation of such equipment, the proposed implementation schedule, maintenance costs, the estimated savings in fossil fuels and electricity, the estimated payback time, and such other information as may be required by the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6).
- (c) **Initial submission of proposals—** Under the requirements established under [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A), initial proposals for the installation of [solar energy equipment](/usc/42/8241.md?p=5) in [Federal buildings](/usc/42/8241.md?p=2) selected under [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A) shall be submitted not later than 180 days after the date of promulgation of the rule under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1).
- (d) **Program to disseminate information to Federal procurement and loan officers—** In order to more widely disseminate information about the program under this part and under part B and the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, the [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6) shall establish a program which includes site visits and technical briefings, to disseminate such information to Federal procurement officers and Federal loan officers. The [Secretary](/usc/42/8241.md?p=6) shall utilize available funds for the program under this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–619, title V, § 523, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3276; Pub. L. 101–218, § 8(a), Dec. 11, 1989, 103 Stat. 1868.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–218 added subsec. (d).