Methane Removal Research and Innovation Act of 2026

Kevin Mullin

Democrat · CA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6)Original· 2026-06-25
• Carol D. Miller (R-WV-1)Original· 2026-06-25

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

2026-06-25

Source: Congress.gov

The Department of Energy would be required to launch a research program focused on developing new technologies that can capture and remove methane gas from the atmosphere, addressing one of the major greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. This initiative would support scientists and engineers working on innovative solutions to reduce methane levels, which could benefit the environment and public health by helping slow global warming. The program would affect energy companies, research institutions, and ultimately communities dealing with climate-related impacts.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9478 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9478 To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a research initiative to develop technologies to remove methane from the atmosphere, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2026 Mr. Mullin (for himself, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a research initiative to develop technologies to remove methane from the atmosphere, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Removal Research and Innovation Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. METHANE REMOVAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) 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. (2) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). (3) Methane removal approach.--The term ``methane removal approach'' means enhancing sinks by breaking down methane in, or removing methane from, the ambient atmosphere through a physical, chemical, or biological method, or combination thereof. (4) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801). (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy. (b) Methane Removal.-- (1) Establishment.-- (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a research initiative, to be known as the ``Methane Removal Research Initiative'' (in this section referred to as the ``Initiative''), to expand the scientific understanding of chemistry, geosciences, biosciences, atmospheric sciences, earth and environmental systems sciences, engineering, materials, social sciences, and ethics useful for the practical development of methane removal approaches. (B) Implementation.--In carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary shall seek to the greatest extent practicable to leverage expertise and resources from the following: (i) The Office of Science of the Department of Energy, especially the Basic Energy Sciences Program and the Biological and Environmental Research Program of such Office. (ii) The Office of Fossil Energy of the Department of Energy. (iii) The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. (iv) The National Science Foundation. (v) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (vi) The Environmental Protection Agency. (vii) The Department of Agriculture. (viii) The United States Geological Survey. (ix) The Department of the Interior. (x) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (xi) The National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2) Methane removal.-- (A) In general.--Through the Initiative, the Secretary shall organize activities among multidisciplinary teams, consisting of experts from National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, private sector entities, and other appropriate entities to support research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities examining the feasibility, costs, potential scale, social barriers, and the practical development of methane removal approaches. (B) Research goals.--The activities described in subparagraph (A) shall include defining and satisfying milestone-driven research goals relating to examining the following: (i) Existing mechanisms of atmospheric oxidation and atmospheric oxidative capacity. (ii) Methanotrophy enhancement. (iii) Biological methods involving plants. (iv) Methane concentrators and breakdown reactors. (v) Methane breakdown coatings and other new materials. (vi) Other new and existing methane removal approaches. (vii) Tools to…

assess atmospheric methane removal methods. (viii) Science communication and public engagement materials. (C) Consistency with national academies report.-- The research goals described in subparagraph (B) shall be informed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report entitled ``A Research Agenda Toward Atmospheric Methane Removal''. (D) Organization.--The Secretary is authorized to organize research activities under this paragraph through single Principal Investigator awards, small research groups, Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs, or other organizational structures. (E) Resources.--The Secretary shall provide sufficient resources for the purpose of satisfying the goals specified in subparagraph (B) over a period of time to be determined by the Secretary. (3) Report to congress.--Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act and every three years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Department of Energy applied energy and commercialization offices, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant Federal officials at the Secretary's discretion, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a brief report detailing the following: (A) Research activities and goals under paragraph (2). (B) Progress toward meeting such goals. (C) A summary of the state of scientific knowledge on methane removal approaches, including key knowledge gaps and proposed research to fill such knowledge gaps. (D) Resource limitations and needs. (E) Recommendations for future activities to advance methane removal technologies. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. <all>

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