Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act of 1978; Hearing before the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development of the Committee on Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-Fifth Congress Second Session on S. 2860., H. R. 12505. August 14, 1978; Publication No. 95-166

iii, [1],267, [1] pages. Illustrations. H. R. 12505 was a bill to provide for a research, development, and demonstration program to determine the feasibility of collecting in space solar energy to be transmitted to Earth and to generate electricity for domestic purposes. Statements were provided by Senator James Abourezk, Senator Maryon Allen, Oliver Boileau (Boeing), Garry DeLos, John Deutch (Department of Energy), Congressman Ronnie Flippo, Peter Glaser (Arthur D. Little), Senator Floyd Haskell, Ira Hendrick (Grumman Aerospace), and Senator John Sparkman The Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act of 1978 would establish a program in the Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue research, development, and demonstration of solar power satellites (SPS) as a major source of energy. Enacting legislation for such a program at this time with the expectation of demonstrating such systems in the near future is premature. Technical, environmental, economic, and institutional issues surrounding SPS systems have not been adequately investigated, and supporting technologies such as the space shuttle and photovoltaic energy systems are years away from being useful in deploying SPS systems. Under existing legislation, the DOE has initiated a SPS Concept Development and Evaluation Program to formulate a better understanding of the SPS concept. This program was begun in fiscal year 1977, and about $7.6 million has been obligated for carrying out the program through 1978.…