The Magnitude of the Federal Solar Energy Program and the Effects of Different Levels of Funding

To accelerate development and use of solar energy systems, Congress has greatly increased appropriations for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy over the past few years. Different programs and funding requirements have been necessary to carry out programs for the following technologies: fuels from biomass, photovoltaic conversion systems, solar thermal power systems, wind energy conversion systems, ocean thermal energy conversion, solar heating and cooling of buildings, and agricultural and industrial process heat.