42 U.S.C. § 16295 — Oil and gas research programs

(a) The research program. The Secretary^* must run research, development, demonstration, and commercial-application work on oil and gas, covering: (1) exploration and production; (2) gas hydrates; (3) extending the life of oil and gas reservoirs; (4) transportation and distribution infrastructure; (5) ultraclean fuels; (6) heavy oil, oil shale, and tar sands; and (7) related environmental research.

(b) Goals. This program should advance the science and technology available to domestic oil producers, especially independent operators, to reduce the economic harm caused by declining U.S. oil and gas supplies.

(c) Gulf Coast reserves report. Starting two years after August 8, 2005, and every two years after, the Secretary of the Interior, with other agencies, must report to Congress the latest estimates of natural gas and oil reserves, reserves growth, and undiscovered resources in Federal and State^* waters off Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi.

(d) Clean power research center. (1) The Secretary must set up a national center or consortium^* on clean energy and power generation, building on the existing Clean Power and Energy Research Consortium, to address U.S. energy dependence and the need to cut emissions. (2) This center must research, develop, demonstrate, and commercialize work across six areas: (A) gas turbine efficiency and reliability; (B) reducing power-generation emissions; (C) promoting energy conservation; (D) using alternative and renewable fuels effectively; (E) developing advanced materials for oil and gas exploration in harsh environments; and (F) education on energy and power generation.