NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 971

HOUSE BILL 654

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH ON A SOLAR THERMAL CONVERSION UNIT WHICH WILL PRODUCE A MINIMUM OF 1,000 KWH OF ELECTRICITY PER MONTH, AND BE RELIABLE AND RELATIVELY FREE OF MAINTENANCE.

 

Whereas, the State of North Carolina, with its outstanding universities, colleges and research facilities, is a recognized leader in the development and dissemination of knowledge; and

Whereas, solar energy is the world's most abundant and renewable energy resource; and

Whereas, the business climate and public welfare of this State would greatly benefit from the development of a unit which would produce at least 1,000 KWH of electricity per month and would be practical for usage by a residence or business, also be reliable and relatively free from maintenance and be of a size and cost to encourage its use by home owners and businesses; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the School of Engineering and the School of Design of North Carolina State University for fiscal year 1977‑78 the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for fiscal year 1978-79 for the purpose of development and research on a solar thermal conversion unit which will produce a minimum of 1,000 KWH of electricity per month, operating as much as possible independent of any outside energy source, be reliable and relatively free of maintenance. This money is to be used to continue research and development of solar systems and funded in the 1975-1977 biennium by Chapter 911 of the 1975 Session Laws. Such research and development is to be funded in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in the preamble to this act.

Sec. 2.  North Carolina State University is hereby authorized to spend a portion of the funds herein appropriated to design, construct and display at the North Carolina State Fair a solar thermal conversion unit for the purpose of demonstrating and encouraging the use of solar energy.

Sec. 3.  North Carolina State University is hereby authorized to apply for, obtain and spend any federal grants of funds available from the federal government for use in a manner consistent with the purposes herein designated.

Sec. 4.  North Carolina State University is hereby authorized to apportion the funds herein appropriated, and any matching federal funds obtained as authorized herein, among the School of Engineering and its departments, the School of Design and its departments, and any joint projects between those two schools, in any manner consistent with the purposes herein designated.

Sec. 5.  All expenditures made from the funds appropriated by this act and for the purposes herein designated shall be accounted for and reported according to the fiscal and financial system of the agencies to whom the appropriations are made as herein set forth.

Sec. 6.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.