(b) The Congress declares that the purposes of this title are(1) to establish a positive energy outreach program directed toward small business and individual energy consumers and the organizations that influence energy consumption;

(2) to stimulate, provide for and supplement programs for the conduct of evaluation, planning and other technical support of energy conservation efforts, including energy outreach activities of States.

[42 U.S.C. 7001]

ESTABLISHMENT OF EXTENSION SERVICE

SEC. 503. (a) There is established in the Energy Research and Development Administration an office to be designated as the Energy Extension Service (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Service"). The Service shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by and directly responsible to the Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator"). The Director shall be a person who by reason of training, experience, and attainments is exceptionally qualified to implement the programs of the Service. There shall be in the Service a Deputy Director who shall be appointed by the Administrator, who shall have such functions, powers, and duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Director, and who shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Director during the absence or disability of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of, the Director.

(b) The Director shall receive basic pay at the rate provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule in section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

(c) The Director shall have overall responsibility for the national direction of the comprehensive program developed under section 504 and of all other activities conducted under this title and shall annually review the programs of the various States under sections 505 and 506 to insure that they are effectively promoting the realization of the objectives of this title.

[42 U.S.C. 7002]

DESCRIPTION OF EXTENSION SERVICE

SEC. 504. (a) The Service shall develop and implement a comprehensive program for the identification, development, and practical demonstration of energy conserving opportunities, techniques, materials, and equipment, including opportunities, techniques, or methods responsive to local needs or resources, and alternative energy technologies such as solar heating and cooling, for

(1) agricultural, commercial, and small business operations, and

(2) new and existing residential, commercial, and agricultural buildings or structures.

Such program shall provide for technical assistance, instruction, information, dissemination, and practical demonstrations in energy conservation opportunities, and shall provide an active interface with end use energy consumers at the local level for the purpose of offering active outreach assistance and affording a communication

channel for end user technology requirements. Such outreach assistance shall be provided by means of such appropriate local offices, including metropolitan city offices, county agents, and technical staff assistants, and may be required to provide energy extension services.

(b) The program authorized under subsection (a) of this section shall permit each State to establish a technical support institute at one or more colleges or universities designated by the Governor of that State. Each such institute shall

(1) have as its purpose to assist in implementation of the State energy extension service; and

(2) provide such analyses and technical support as is necessary for effective State energy extension service activities. (c) The comprehensive program developed under subsection (a) shall be implemented and carried out within each State pursuant to sections 505 and 506.

(d) The Director shall take such steps as may be necessary to insure that the comprehensive program is implemented in a manner which minimizes conflict with existing services in the private sector of the economy that are similar to those provided under such program.

[42 U.S.C. 7003]

INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF EXTENSION SERVICE

SEC. 505. (a) The Director shall within forty-five days after the effective date of this title invite the Governor of each State through competitive procurement to submit a plan for the conduct of energy extension service activities as described in section 504 of this title throughout such State including provisions for appropriate technical support within such State of such activities, to disseminate information and provide advice and assistance to individuals, groups, and units of State and local government by means of

(1) specific studies and recommendations applicable to individual residences, businesses, and agricultural or commercial establishments;

(2) demonstration projects;

(3) distribution of studies and instructional materials;

(4) seminars and other training sessions for State and local government officials and the public; and

(5) other public outreach programs.

(b) Each State shall be accorded not more than ninety days to submit a plan to the Director under subsection (a) of this section. The Director shall promptly review such proposals and shall, with the approval of the Administrator, and subject to the limitations of section 512(c)(1) and (2), provide funds adequate for the support of the proposed energy outreach plan of a State if the Director finds that, such plan

(1) meets the objectives of this title;

(2) was prepared with opportunity for input from State, county, and local officials, State universities, colleges and community colleges, cooperative extension services, community

service action agencies, and other public or private organizations involved in active energy outreach programs;

(3) consistent with the objectives and requirements of this title, makes optimum use of existing outreach or delivery mechanisms or programs, and includes to the optimum extent any existing State, local, university, college, or other organizations' programs for energy information, education, or technology transfer which have objectives similar to those of this title and activities similar or related to those specified in section 504 and subsection (a) of this section;

(4) provides that the State will maintain, or require other participating entities within the State to maintain, and make available upon request to the Director, such records with respect to the use and expenditure of any Federal funds paid to the State, or to entities within the State, under this title as the Director may require;

(5) provides for the establishment of effective procedures for responding to external inputs and inquiries;

(6) requires that, to the extent possible, within personnel and funding limitations, on-site energy evaluations will be made available to all consumers and small business concerns, and to other business concerns within such limitations (as to size or otherwise) as the Director may specify;

(7) provides that the State will furnish and widely disseminate information on the types of assistance available under this title, and under other Federal and State laws, with respect to the planning, financing, installation, and effecting monitoring of energy-related facilities and activities;

(8) provides that the allocation within the State of the funds made available to it under this title will be based on, or give due consideration to, such factors (specifically including potential energy savings and number of persons affected) as the Director determines will best carry out the purpose of this title;

(9) requires the establishment and implementation of policies and procedures designed to assure that assistance provided under this title does not replace or supplant the expenditure of other Federal or State or local funds for the same purposes, but rather supplements such funds and increases the expenditure of such State or local funds to the maximum extent possible: Provided, That there shall be no requirement for matching State or local funds in the guidelines, unless such requirement is included in an annual authorization;

(10) requires effective coordination of the programs under such State plans with other Federal programs which provide funds for university extension programs, in order to avoid duplication;

(11) requires the establishment and implementation of effective procedures specifically designed for the dissemination of information to small business concerns;

(12) limits to a maximum of 20 per centum the portion of the funds made available under this title which may be used for the purchase of equipment, facilities, and library and related materials;

(13) prohibits the use of any such funds for the purchase of land or interests therein or the repair of buildings or structures; and

(14) satisfies such other criteria as the Director may establish to carry out the purpose of this title.

[42 U.S.C. 7004]

IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL EXTENSION SERVICE

SEC. 506. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 505, the Director, on behalf of the Administrator, is authorized and directed to invite in each State of the United States not then participating in the program at the earliest practicable date, but no later than October 1, 1978, to submit a plan for the conduct of energy extension service activities, including provisions for appropriate technical support in such State, to disseminate information and provide advice and assistance to individuals, groups, and units of State and local government by means of—

(1) specific studies and recommendations applicable to individual residences, businesses, and agricultural or commercial establishments;

(2) demonstration projects;

(3) distribution of studies and instructional materials;

(4) seminars and other training sessions for State and local government officials and the public; and

(5) other public outreach programs.

(b) Pursuant to authority described in subsection (a) of this section, the Director, with the approval of the Administrator, shall issue guidelines for the preparation and submission of State plans under subsection (c). Such guidelines shall be designated to assure that the plans so submitted will be consistent with this title and will effectively contribute to the achievement of its objectives, and shall allow maximum flexibility and the exercise of maximum discretion by the States. In the preparation of such guidelines, the Administrator shall provide a reasonable opportunity for inputs by representatives of the several States and for a reasonable period for public review and comment. In any event, such guidelines

(1) shall require the establishment and implementation of policies and procedures designed to assure that assistance provided under this title does not replace or supplant the expenditure of other Federal or State or local funds for the same purposes, but rather supplements such funds and increases the expenditure of such State or local funds to the maximum extent possible;

(2) shall require effective coordination of the programs under such State plans with other Federal programs which provide funds for university extension programs, in order to avoid duplication;

(3) shall require the establishment and implementation of effective procedures specifically designed for the dissemination of information to small business concerns;

(4) shall limit to a maximum of 20 per centum the portion of the funds made available under this title which may be used

for the purchase of equipment, facilities, and library and related materials; and

(5) shall prohibit the use of any such funds for the purchase of land or interests therein or the repair of buildings or structures.

(c) On the effective date of the guidelines described in subsection (b) of this section, the Director shall invite the Governor of each State not then participating in the program to submit a plan for the conduct of energy extension service activities throughout such State.

(d) Each State plan submitted under subsection (c) shall be approved by the Director if the Director finds that such plan(1) meets the objectives of this title;

(2) was prepared with opportunity for input from State, county, and local officials, State universities and community colleges, cooperative extensive services, community service action agencies, and other public or private organizations involved in active energy outreach programs;

(3) consistent with the objectives and requirements of this title, makes optimum use of existing active outreach or delivery mechanisms or programs, and includes to the optimum extent any existing State, local, university, or other organizations' programs for energy information, education, or technology transfer which have objectives similar to those of this title and activities similar or related to those specified in section 504 and subsection (a) of this section;

(4) provides that the State will maintain, or require other participating entities within the State to maintain, and make available upon request to the Director, such records with respect to the use and expenditure of any Federal funds paid to the State, or to entities within the State, under this title as the Director may require;

(5) provides for the establishment of effective procedures for responding to external inputs and inquiries;

(6) requires that, to the extent possible, within personnel and funding limitations, on-site energy evaluations will be made available to all consumers and small business concerns, and to other business concerns within such limitations (as to size or otherwise) as the Director may specify;

(7) provides that the State will furnish and widely disseminate information on the types of assistance available under this title, and under other Federal and State laws, with respect to the planning, financing, installation, and effective monitoring of energy-related facilities and activities;

(8) provides that the allocation within the State of the funds made available to it under this title will be based on, or give due consideration to, such factors (specifically including potential energy savings and number of persons affected) as the Director determines will best carry out the purpose of this title; and

(9) satisfies such other criteria as the Director may establish to carry out the purpose of this title.