Concern Over Efforts To Put in Place a Permanent Facility for Solar Energy Research Institute

Highlights

GAO reviewed Department of Energy (DOE) efforts to put in place a planned permanent facility for the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) in Golden, Colorado.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Energy	The Secretary of Energy should defer related design and construction until such efforts are justified.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Energy	The Secretary of Energy should monitor the Office of Field Operations and International Programs' assessment of the role and mission of SERI to ensure that it is done in a timely manner and results in a clear definition of the SERI role in the national solar program.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Energy	The Secretary of Energy should identify, to the extent practicable, the research development and demonstration and administrative requirements for the facility over its estimated useful life and incorporate those requirements in a long range plan for the facility's use.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Energy	The Secretary of Energy should give high priority to ensuring the justification is prepared and approved in a timely manner, taking into consideration the inadequacies of the leased facilities presently being used for carrying out the SERI activities and any advantage that an early commitment to such construction may offer in meeting Colorado's deadline and other requirements for transferring title to the land on which the facility is to be located.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

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