Not all firms can afford to test fully their solar equipment. Under the demonstration program, we will provide an opportunity to have such equipment tested and evaluated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in their supporting role under this activity. ERDA also will be issuing very soon a program opportunity notice in parallel with the RFI. This notice will call for proposals for solar heating, or solar heating and cooling systems, which are ready for current implementation. We would expect that private financing has been obtained, that the concept has been formulated, and that the team of major participants has been organized. The Government then would assess the proposals. For those considered suitable for negotiation of contracts, we would be prepared to fund architectural design and provide partial or total funding for the solar-unique hardware that would be incorporated in the building. Provision for suitable instrumentation, data collection, et cetera, will also be made for these demonstration projects. We believe that there are architect-engineering firms ready now to respond to this opportunity, many of them being small business concerns. Dr. Moskow will be discussing portions of the solar heating demonstration program concerned with residential applications, and we will both be prepared to answer questions on both the residential and commercial portions of the program. The Program Opportunity Notice will be an important mechanism for support of companies that have already invested in developing solar systems, subsystems and components. Their pioneering activities and experience will be an important factor in acceptance of proposals as a basis for contracts under the demonstration program. Opportunities will also be provided for support of companies that require further product development in order to bring their product to market readiness. This could include assistance in further development of the product, preparation of operating manuals, installation, test, and evaluation. Small businesses have already won significant contracts in the solar program. As you mentioned, Senator Hathaway, the InterTechnology Corp. of Warrenton, Va., was awarded one of the first four contracts for installation of solar units on schools. It has since won one of the two major study contracts for design of a recommended demonstration plan for the commercial building portions of the demonstration program. Among the school contracts, many small business firms have been awarded subsystem and supply contracts. One example is the Westinghouse contract to install solar heating and cooling on the George A. Towns Elementary School in Atlanta, Ga., that I mentioned earlier. Westinghouse receives directly only $200,000 out of a contract total of $915,000 for its work as prime contractor and systems designer. PPG Industries, Inc., will be paid $80,000 for the collectors. The balance will be paid to small business firms for architecture, plumbing, installation, storage, and system control, plus some funds to the University of Georgia. Small business firms are the backbone of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) business. They do the system designs, installation, startup, maintenance and service. They are the grassroots of the HVAC industry. We believe that as the solar heating and cooling program develops, the industry will develop solar heating and cooling in much the same manner as the HVAC industry. We will assure, therefore, that the small business firms have full opportunity to participate in this exciting new venture, and we are working on mechanisms to provide a full flow of information on the developing technologies to all interested small businesses. In the area of solar electric applications, the development and construction of large-size electric plants or equipment such as large wind generators will be required. When, and if, these come into wide usage, their production and construction will require substantial industrial capability, probably provided eventually by larger size companies, although these may start out as small companies. However, at this stage of the research and development process, there is a need for innovation and new ideas. There is a role for some types of small business here; and we always welcome unsolicited proposals from those with such ideas. Of course, not all of these will be funded. Frequently, we find that the idea or concept has been looked at earlier or that there are problems in implementation that the originator did not recognize. I have here today, Mr. Chairman, a small information booklet that we have just printed that describes ERDA's solar energy program. (Testimony resumes at page 192. The exhibit referred to follows:) Information in this brochure is intended for use by anyone who is interested in the direction and of solar energy research or Copies of this brochure may be obtained without charge by writing the ERDA Technical Information Center, P.O. Box 62, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830; or the Division of Solar Energy, |