Methane Emissions Mitigation Research and Development Act

for pipelines, compressor stations, components, and wells (including casing, cement, and wellhead). ``(E) Regional geologic traits. ``(F) Induced and natural seismicity. ``(b) Methane Leak Detection Consortium.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish and operate a Methane Emissions Measurement and Mitigation Research Consortium (in this section referred to as the `Consortium') for the purpose of supporting, to the maximum extent practicable, data sharing, research prioritization, and researching cooperative leak detection and repair strategies pertaining to methane emissions detection, quantification, and mitigation. ``(2) Membership.--The members of the Consortium shall be representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, other relevant Federal agencies, National Laboratories, oil and gas operators and industry groups, vendors of methane detection and quantification technologies, institutions of higher education, community organizations, relevant nongovernmental organizations, and other entities. ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Consortium shall develop and implement a multiyear plan that-- ``(A) identifies technical goals and milestones for the Consortium; and ``(B) facilitates data sharing for the purposes of-- ``(i) bettering the understanding of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector; ``(ii) improving emissions detection, measurement, and mitigation capabilities, including assessing multi-tiered atmospheric measurements; and ``(iii) improving the understanding of methane quantification data analytics and machine learning platforms, including for calibration of measurements. ``(4) Reporting.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall report on the Consortium's activities to the appropriate congressional committees. ``(B) Initial report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program under this section. The report shall include the following: ``(i) A review of LDAR technologies available to the oil and gas sector for the purpose of methane emissions measurement and mitigation. ``(ii) A summary of research gaps and priorities related to methane emissions detection, measurement, and mitigation capabilities. ``(iii) A description of the data sharing and cooperative activities that have been initiated pursuant to paragraph (3)(B). ``(C) Annual report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the report under subparagraph (B) is submitted and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program under this section. The report shall include the following: ``(i) An updated review of LDAR technologies available to oil and gas operators for the purpose of methane emissions measurement and mitigation. ``(ii) A description of the state of methane emissions detection and measurement capabilities. ``(iii) A summary of research priorities relating to methane emissions detection, measurement, and mitigation. ``(iv) An update on the data sharing and cooperative activities undertaken by members of the Consortium. ``(5) Sunset; termination.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide support to the Consortium for a period of not more than ten years, subject to the availability of appropriations. ``(B) Merit review.--Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Consortium is established, the Secretary shall conduct a review to determine whether the Consortium has achieved the technical goals and milestones identified under paragraph (3)(A). ``(6) Definitions.--In this section: ``(A) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. ``(B) LDAR.--The term `LDAR' means a technology, program, or activity that is intended to monitor, detect, measure, or repair methane leaks. ``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Energy. ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section the following: ``(A) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. ``(B) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. ``(C) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. ``(D) $42,000,000 for fiscal year 2029. ``(E) $44,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle F of title IX of such Act the following new item: ``Sec. 969E. Methane leak detection and mitigation.''. (c) National Facilities for Testing and Intercalibration Program Relating to Methane.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish a program through the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Center for Greenhouse Gas Measurements, Standards, and Information established pursuant to section 10222 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 18932) that establishes national facilities to advance methane detection, quantification, and relevant standards and supporting methods for testing and intercalibration of methane measurements and the publication and maintenance of standards for such measurements. (2) Responsibilities.--The facilities established under paragraph (1) shall facilitate detection and quantification of carbon, carbon isotopes, methane, ethane, and gases associated with such sources, provide high-resolution spectroscopic reference data advancing accuracy of remote sensing technologies, develop methods relating methane concentration observations to the associated emission fluxes, and facilitate the rapid performance testing of existing and new technologies for the measurement of methane emissions, including testing conditions with a wide range of the following: (A) Sizes and extents of emission sources. (B) Geographic diversity. (C) Temporal characteristics. (D) Diversity of atmospheric conditions, such as wind, rain, fog, clouds, and dust. (E) Diversity of observing platforms. (F) Quantification of atmospheric emission plumes. (3) Annual report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program established under paragraph (1). (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section the following: (A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. (B) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. (C) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. (D) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2029. (E) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2030 and each fiscal year thereafter. <all>