Bill > S1215

This bill, the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Amendments Act of 2015, amends the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000 to advance the development of methane hydrate as a commercially viable energy source. It acknowledges that methane is a potent greenhouse gas and its release from reservoirs can significantly impact global climate change. The bill expands the Secretary's authority to award grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for research and development, including identifying and characterizing methane hydrate resources, developing technologies for efficient and environmentally sound extraction, assessing and mitigating the environmental impacts of methane release, and reducing drilling risks. It also mandates exploratory drilling and production testing in both permafrost and non-permafrost environments, including specific timelines for tests in the Arctic and marine settings, and establishes a long-term environmental monitoring program. All funding will be allocated through a competitive process based on scientific peer review, and it authorizes necessary appropriations for these activities.