Senator Ford. Well, you stated that there is no money directly tied to the satellite solar power system in ERDA's 1977 budget. Dr. Teem. That is correct, sir. Senator Ford. Will ERDA fund studies of this concept indirectly with the solar energy program in fiscal year 1977? Dr. Teem. We are going to be presenting the rationale for our budget to Congress, and it does not include any such efforts planned in fiscal year 1977. To carry out something of that, it is my personal opinion that we would have to propose a reprograming of some form. But I really cannot answer that question with assurance, Mr. Chair- Chairman, because we haven't—we have followed this area of technology, we have had a number of discussions with our NASA colleagues on this. Our solar people have been following the results of many of the studies that have been reported before this committee. But I am not able to identify how we would carry out such studies in fiscal year 1977. We will be looking at that. Senator Ford. Dr. Teem, when were you notified that this area would be assigned to you? Dr. Teem. I personally learned about it this month, Mr. Chairman. Senator Ford. What, you mean the 10th or 15th or yesterday? Dr. Teem. If I recall the date, it was last week. Senator Ford. Last week. Dr. Teem. But I do believe that we were as an agency informed on this—and due to a communications “glitch,” I didn't personally learn about it until just recently. Senator Ford. Will ERDA include, then, the satellite solar power as a fifth technology area within the solar electric applications program in fiscal year 1978? What I want to know is who is going to carry the ball from now on and who has the responsibility for deciding whether we develop a satellite solar power system. You kind of shook me a little bit here this morning. You know, you just got it this month—really last week—and there is no money there and there is no excitement probably there as to this area and----- Dr. Teem. I think we should be—as you pointed out so well, Mr. Chairman—make these kinds of assessments not just on the basis of our excitement, but on the basis of our objective evaluation. And this is the way we try to approach all of these areas. Senator Ford. Well, it is just something thrust on you that maybe you didn't want—it might be put on the back burner and you couldn't even make a conservative—it would be a long time before you get around to making a conservative judgment. And I don't mean to be belaboring this point, but this is something new, Dr. Teem—if you just learned about it last week, I am learning about it today. Dr. Teem. Yes; it is new. And I don't want to give any implication that there is a lack of enthusiasm. We accept this responsibility that the President has given us with enthusiasm as we accept all of these energy technologies. It is an area which has a lot of potential, which has come out in these hearings. It is also true—I think these hearings have been very useful to me in highlighting some of the major issues involved in this potential approach for solar energy on the ground. I listened with a great deal
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