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

U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development

Published by U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1978

About this Item

iii, [1], 267, [1] pages. Illustrations. Tabular Data. Minor wear and soiling to the front page. This volume includes statements from James Abouresk, Maryon Allen, Oliver Boileau, Garry DeLoss, John Deutch, Ronnie Flippo, Peter Glaser, Floyd Haskell, Ira Hedrick and John Sparkman. Senator Abouresk opened the hearing by stating "I have long been a supporter of solar energy, and have sponsored a great deal of legislation to encourage its use. Nonetheless the harnessing of Sun for the solar power satellite seems to me to be singularly ill-advised an wasteful approach. The Government Accountability Office, in its report EMD-78-61 Publicly Released: Apr 13, 1978 stated that 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. Program activities are expected to result in the formulation of program recommendations by June 1980 either to continue further study, field testing, and possibly space testing, or to terminate the program. The scope of DOE's ongoing program appears sufficient to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding SPS systems. After these studies are completed, a better basis will exist for evaluating the pros and cons of a costly SPS development program.

Seller Inventory # 91224

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Solar Power Satellite Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act of 1978; Hearing before the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate Ninety-fifth Congress Second Session on S. 2860 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 general Electricity for Domestic Purposes H.R. 12505 An ...
• Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC
• Publication Date: 1978
• Binding: Wraps
• Edition: Presumed First Edition, First Printing.
• Condition: Very good