42 USC § 17001 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s17001"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 17001 - Definitions"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "17001"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 152
chapter_name: "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–140, § 2, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1498.)"
---


# § 17001. Definitions

In this Act:

**(1)** **Department** The term “Department” means the Department of Energy.

**(2)** **Institution of higher education** section 1001(a) of title 20

The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in .

**(3)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–140, § 2, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1498.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is , , , known as the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which enacted this chapter and enacted and amended numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.

### Short Title of 2020 Amendment

> “This division [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Energy Act of 2020’.”

, , , provided that:

### Short Title of 2015 Amendment

> “This Act [enacting sections 17062, 17063, 17084, and 17085 of this title, amending sections 6295, 6302 to 6304, and 17091 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015’.”

, , , provided that:

> “This title [enacting sections 17062, 17084, and 17085 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Better Buildings Act of 2015’.”

, , , provided that:

### Short Title

> “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007’.”

, , , provided that:

> “This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 601–607) of title VI of
> 
> , enacting part A (§ 17171 et seq.) of subchapter V of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007’.”

, , , provided that:

> “This subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 611–625) of title VI of
> 
> , enacting part B (§ 17191 et seq.) of subchapter V of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Advanced Geothermal Energy Research and Development Act of 2007’.”

, , , provided that:

, , , which provided that subtitle C (§§ 631–636) of title VI of , enacting former part C (§ 17211 et seq.) of subchapter V of this chapter, could be cited as the “Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Research and Development Act”, was omitted from the Code in the general amendment of subtitle C by .

> “This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 701–708) of title VII of
> 
> , enacting part A (§ 17251 et seq.) of subchapter VI of this chapter and amending
> 
> ] may be cited as the ‘Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007’.”

, , , provided that: