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42 USC § 17211 - Definitions 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s17211"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 17211 - Definitions"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "17211"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 152
chapter_name: "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "ACCELERATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Water Power Research and Development"
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, title VI, § 632, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3001(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2479.)"
---

# § 17211. Definitions

In this part:

**(1)** **Eligible entity** The term “eligible entity” means any of the following entities:

**(A)** An institution of higher education.

**(B)** A National Laboratory.

**(C)** A Federal research agency.

**(D)** A State research agency.

**(E)** A nonprofit research organization.

**(F)** An industrial entity or a multi-institutional consortium thereof.

**(2)** **Institution of higher education** The term “institution of higher education” means—

**(A)** an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001(a) of title 20); or

**(B)** a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 1002(c) of title 20).

**(3)** **Marine energy** The term “marine energy” means energy from—

**(A)** waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas;

**(B)** free flowing water in rivers, lakes, streams, and man-made channels;

**(C)** differentials in salinity and pressure gradients; and

**(D)** differentials in water temperature, including ocean thermal energy conversion.

**(4)** **National laboratory** section 15801(3) of this title

The term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given such term in .

**(5)** **Water power** The term “water power” refers to hydropower, including conduit power, pumped storage, and marine energy technologies.

**(6)** **Microgrid** section 17231 of this title

The term “microgrid” has the meaning given such term in .

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 632, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3001(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2479.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 17211, , , , related to definitions of terms, prior to the general amendment of this part by .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

This part was formerly known as the “Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Research and Development Act”, see Short Title note formerly set out under .