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DOCUMENT RESUME
0085 - rA1051825]
(The Federal Wind Energy Program]. B-178205; ED-77-33. March
29, 1977. 6 pp.
Report to Robert W. Fri, Acting Administratcr, Energy Research
and De',alopment Administration; by Monte Canfield, Jr.,
Director, Energy and Minerals Div.
Contact: Energy and Minerals Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Energy (305).
Organization Concerned: Department of Agriculture; National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science
Foundation.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Science and
Technology; Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources.
Under the direction of the Energy Research and
Development Administration (ERDA), the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration is responsible for developing, testing, and
evaluating large wind energy systems, and the Department of
Agriculture is responsible for identifying, developing, and
testing applications in rural and remote areas. Of the funds
specifically designated for small, medium, and large systems
from July 1974 through Septenber 1976, sore than 82% had been
spent on large systems. ERDA's emphasis on these systems has
been based on its belief that: well-defined commercial markets
exist for large systems but not for small and medium-sized
systems; large systems will provide cheaper power tLan the small
and medium-sized; Federal assistance will be needed by industry
to develop and commercialize large systems, but little Federal
assistance will be needed to develop an] commercialize smaller
systems; areas needing improvement are well-defined for large
systems, but not for the small and medium-sized; and a Federal
program to develop small and medium-sized systems would
eliminate private investment. Findings/Cinclusicns: A GAO
survey of the Wind Energy Program showed that: the decision to
stress large systems was made without comparative analysis of
small and medium-sized systems; and ERDA needs tc systematically
compare and evaluate the potential and advantages and
disadvantages of wind energy systems of all sizes so that
program content and priorities are proper and that resources are
effectively allocated among the different sized wind energy
systems and between the wind program and ERDA's cther programs.
Recommendations: ERDA should: direct the expeditious completion
of market studies in sufficient depth to identify the commercial
potential of small, medium, and large wind energy systems; using
these market studies in conjunction with the ongcing and
completed studies, make o comprehensive formal review of the
formal potential and the advantages and disadvantages of wind
energy systems of all sizes, and, if warranted, redirect](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaabte0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)