The legislation increases federal funding for research into ways to turn gas hydrates into useable gas for energy. The United States has approximately 200,000 trillion cubic feet of methane hydrates – enough to power America for nearly 1,000 years at the expected future rates of natural gas consumption.

Chairman Domenici’s statement:

Senator Murkowski’s legislation offers tremendous promise for our long-term gas challenges. I congratulate her on this bill and her invaluable, ongoing contribution to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee as the chair of our Water & Power Subcommittee. I look forward to the opportunity to incorporate some of the ideas in her bill in the comprehensive energy bill.