The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded grants to nine state agencies or universities to study aspects of geothermal energy that are not being studied by industry, but which have the potential for applicability in geothermal development. The awards were made under a Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) issued by DOE's Idaho Operations Office in March 1987. The announcement solicited proposals from state-oriented geothermal research and development. Research areas included resource assessment, resource development and technical assistance and related activities