944 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Programs, commented that the Flippo bill was to his liking because 

 "it did not tell us to go get something done.'' This prompted Fuqua 

 to observe: "Mr. Flippo is a very crafty legislator." This colloquy 

 then ensued with Bennett Miller of DOE's Solar and Geothermal 

 Programs : 



Mr. Fuqua. It's come to my attention that in DOE there is only one person 

 assigned to solar satellite power, and that he has other duties as well. Is that an 

 accurate reflection? 



Mr. Miller. The solar satellite power program is being handled now by a 

 branch chief in the Division of Solar Technology. Indeed, he does have other duties 

 and there is only that one individual. * * * 



Mr. Fuqua. How many employees do you have in DOE? 



Mr. Miller. About 19,000, I think. 



Mr. Fuqua. That's about the level of effort that we figured it was getting. I hope 

 that that effort will improve. I've never seen any agency of the Federal Government 

 have one man do one thing. I've just never seen it. He had to have an assistant and 

 then a few other people to help support that. 



Mr. Mn. ilk. Maybe it's a sign of good management. 



Mr. Fuqua. And here it's half a man. He must be a rather talented individual. I 

 would hope that there would he more elfort being put forth in DOE in solar power 

 satellite efforts than just a partial man, or maybe calling in a few to fill in. 



Mr. Gore. Mr. Chairman, maybe we could call him the $2.3 million man. 

 [Laughter.] 



In March 1979, the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applica- 

 tions on its own held three hearings on the SSPS bill, without joining 

 with an energy subcommittee. Engineering societies, environmental 

 groups, and DOE and NASA testified. The 1979 bill placed less em- 

 phasis on the demonstration aspects. Although Ottinger's Energy 

 Development and Applications Subcommittee held several hearings on 

 the SSPS bill, it was Fuqua's subcommittee which assumed legislative 

 responsibility for the SSPS bill in 1979. 



NO COMMITMENT FOR COMMERCIALIZATION 



In his subcommittee report, Fuqua commented: 



I want to emphasize that there is no commitment to the construction of a 

 commercial demonstration solar power satellite. In addition, there will be an annual 

 authorization which will assure the Congress a full annual review of the progress 

 and resolution of issues. 



