---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 9008"
description: "Definitions"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "98"
chapter_name: "OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
section: "9008"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9008"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s9008"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "2acd6b5f7ad0f3bf7724585eacb7ad407cd49bf599859b9ae795e9e126b57f85"
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text_hash: "f73280cf47b8871e444d1f262c905dd7e80b31e8655edb466d3266fb31917731"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 9008 - Definitions

## Text

As used in this chapter, the term—

(1) “ocean thermal energy conversion” means a method of converting part of the heat from the Sun which is stored in the surface layers of a body of water into electrical energy or energy product equivalent;

(2) “energy product equivalent” means an energy carrier including, but not limited to, ammonia, hydrogen, or molten salts or an energy-intensive commodity, including, but not limited to, electrometals, fresh water, or nutrients for aquaculture; and

(3) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.

(Pub. L. 96–310, § 9, July 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 946.)