The Consortium shall serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource for the Commonwealth on coastal energy issues. As used in this article, “coastal energy” includes wave or tidal action, currents, offshore winds, thermal differences, and methane hydrates. The Consortium shall (i) consult with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry, and other potential users of coastal energy research; (ii) establish and administer agreements with other baccalaureate institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to carry out research projects relating to the feasibility of increasing the Commonwealth’s reliance on all domestic forms of coastal energy; (iii) disseminate new information and research results; (iv) apply for grants made available pursuant to federal legislation, including the federal Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000, P.L. 106-193, and from other sources; and (v) facilitate the application and transfer of new coastal energy technologies.