On May 2, 2000, the President of the United States enacted the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000. The bill calls for the Secretary of Energy to commence a methane hydrate R&D program in consultation with the Department of Defense (represented by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory), the Department of the Interior (represented by the Minerals Management Service and the U.S. Geological Survey), the Department of Commerce (represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and the National Science Foundation. 

On August 8, 2005, the President signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which provides an amendment to the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 [PDF-28KB]. This amendment extends funding for methane hydrate R&D through 2010.

The bill calls for the Secretary of Energy to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education and industrial enterprises on a competitive, merit-based process to:

• Conduct basic and applied research to identify, explore, assess, and develop methane hydrates as a source of energy.
• Assist in developing technologies required for efficient and environmentally sound development of methane hydrate resources.
• Undertake research programs to provide safe means of transport and storage of methane produced from methane hydrates.
• Promote education and training in methane hydrate resource research and resource development.
• Conduct basic and applied research to assess and mitigate the environmental impacts of hydrate degassing (including both natural degassing and degassing associated with commercial development).
• Develop technologies to reduce the risks of drilling through methane hydrates.
• Conduct exploratory drilling in support of the activities authorized by the Act.

The bill also calls for an advisory panel, consisting of experts from industrial enterprises, institutions of higher education, and Federal agencies.

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