HR 2613
Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act
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Bill overview
This bill, the Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act, aims to improve public-private partnerships and increase federal investment in research, development, and demonstration projects related to the evolution of pipeline systems. It establishes a demonstration initiative focused on developing next-generation pipeline technologies, including advanced materials, leak detection, and cybersecurity. The bill also creates a joint research and development program and supports research through the National Institute of Standards and Technology to enhance pipeline safety and efficiency.
Key provisions
- Establishes a demonstration initiative for next-generation pipeline technologies.
- Focuses research on areas like advanced materials, leak detection, and cybersecurity.
- Creates a joint research and development program involving the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Supports research through the National Institute of Standards and Technology to improve pipeline integrity.
- Prioritizes projects that leverage existing infrastructure and matching funds.
- Encourages regional diversity and technological diversity in demonstration projects.
- Authorizes appropriations for the demonstration initiative and joint research program.
- Establishes a National Pipeline Modernization Center to coordinate research and development efforts.
Who is affected
- Department of Energy
- Department of Transportation
- Higher Education Institutions
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Randy K. Sr. Weber
Cosponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 2613
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To improve public-private partnerships and increase Federal research, development, and demonstration related to the evolution of next generation pipeline systems, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act
.
In this Act:
The term Department
means the Department of Energy.
The term eligible entity
means—
an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), including historically Black colleges and universities (within the meaning of the term part B institution
in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)), Tribal colleges and universities (as such term is defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)), and minority serving institutions (including the entities described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)));
a nonprofit research organization;
a National Laboratory (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801));
a private commercial entity;
a partnership or consortium of two or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) that leverages existing Department efforts; or
any other entity the Secretary determines appropriate.
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Energy.
The term technical standard
has the meaning given such term in section 12(d)(5) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note).
In carrying out this Act—
the Office of Science;
the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management;
the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy;
the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response;
the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy;
the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations; and
any other cross-cutting program office determined appropriate;
the Secretary of Transportation shall ensure participation of and coordination with the Secretary of Energy of—
any other program office of the Department of Transportation determined appropriate; and
the Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate.
The Secretary shall establish a demonstration initiative (in this section referred to as the Initiative
) under which the Secretary, through a competitive merit review process, shall award financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects on low- to mid-technology readiness level subjects to achieve deployment of technologies that—
are applicable to pipelines and associated infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas facilities and underground and above ground gas and liquid fuel storage facilities; and
involve the development of next generation pipeline systems, components, and related technologies.
In carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary shall select demonstration projects that best advance research undertaken by the Department and the Department of Transportation and incorporate a range of technology focus areas, which may include the following:
Advanced leak detection and mitigation tools and technologies.
Novel materials, including alloy and nonmetallic materials, to improve integrity for new and existing pipelines, such as pipeline coatings, sleeves, and liners, and corrosion resistant materials, including maximum and minimum flow rates and immunity to electrical discharge processes.
Technologies and methods for retrofitting existing pipelines, resolving material compatibility issues, and minimizing leakage, such as field protective coatings and material treatment.
Advanced manufacturing approaches for producing, fitting, and coupling pipelines, including the fabrication of higher performance pipeline materials and new extrusion technologies or methods to join ultra-high strength and corrosion resistant materials at a scale for distribution.
Advanced sensor technologies and processes that enable real-time or in situ monitoring of pipeline assets to assess and mitigate leaks, both internal and external to the pipeline, which may include the following:
Wireless sensors, such as surface acoustic wave sensors.
Advanced and cost-effective electrochemical sensors.
Distributed fiber optic sensors.
Autonomous sensor systems, including uncrewed aircraft.
Optical methods.
Multi-use platforms for diverse sources.
Hybrid data-analysis platforms.
Advanced computational, data analytics, and machine learning models to achieve the following:
Multiscale modeling, characterization, and optimization of transmission and distribution systems and components to aid in planning for optimized and resilient infrastructure.
Correlation between sensor and emissions data at all operational points and across a variety of scales to assure system integrity spanning large areas.
Accurate material lifecycle predictions and simulation platforms to forecast pipeline health.
Secure real time autonomous monitoring and repair capabilities.
Mapping and monitoring of structural health parameters, such as corrosion.
Self-healing and self-repair functionalities, including by chemical treatment methods.
Autonomous robotic and patch technologies for inspection and repair.
Dynamic compressor technologies, including retrofit kits for existing compressor systems.
Strategies and technologies for integrated cybersecurity considerations and countering cyberattacks.
Technologies and methods to reduce potential environmental impacts, including at the atmospheric and subsurface level, associated with pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and gas and liquid fuel storage facilities, such as equipment failure.
Tools to evaluate geographical pipeline data for the feasibility of repurposing existing infrastructure for safe and effective transport and use of alternative fuels, blends, and carbon dioxide.
Tools and technologies applicable to improving the safety, operation, and efficiency of liquefied natural gas facilities and gas and liquid fuel storage facilities.
In selecting eligible entities for demonstration projects under the Initiative, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, take the following actions:
Encourage regional diversity among eligible entities, including participation by such entities located in rural States.
Prioritize technological diversity among eligible entities.
Prioritize a diverse mix of energy, substances, fuel sources, and byproducts, including the following:
Carbon dioxide.
Hydrogen.
Biofuels.
Water.
Substances in the hydrogen supply chain, including ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers.
Blends of gases or liquids, including hydrogen blends.
Any other source the Secretary determines appropriate.
Prioritize projects that leverage and are complementary to existing energy infrastructure.
Prioritize projects that leverage matching funds from non-Federal sources.
Ensure that selected projects are coordinated with or expand on the existing technology demonstration programs of the Department.
Evaluate projects and topics for technical performance and economic feasibility as part of lifecycle assessments for return on investment impact.
the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and
the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management,
pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (6), respectively, of section 10771 of subtitle O of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117–167), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
This section shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this section.
Joint Program) to carry out research projects that—
develop cost-effective advanced materials and technologies for pipeline transportation systems at different scales;
enable the commercialization of innovative materials and technologies for pipeline transportation systems;
support the development of technical standards of innovative materials and technologies for pipeline transportation systems; and
are at a low technology readiness level and not pursued by the Pipeline Safety Research Program of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation.
identify unique research capabilities to contribute while avoiding duplication of existing efforts; and
In carrying out the Joint Program, the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall—
use existing research infrastructure at—
Department of Energy facilities, including National Laboratories;
Department of Transportation initiatives, including any such initiatives carried out through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; and
the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
develop new infrastructure for potential projects, if appropriate.
The Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall develop goals and metrics for each agency, respectively, in meeting technological progress under the Joint Program, consistent with existing United States energy safety, resilience, and security policies.
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall ensure the following with respect to the Joint Program:
Projects are carried out under conditions that represent a variety of geographies, physical conditions, and market constraints.
Projects represent an appropriate balance of the following:
Larger, higher-cost projects.
Smaller, lower-cost projects.
To the maximum extent practicable, projects are transferred between participating agencies based on the stage of research and capabilities of each agency.
Nothing in this section may be construed to change existing agency roles, responsibilities, or areas of expertise as described in section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–355; 49 U.S.C. 60101 note).
This section shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this section.
Center), which shall focus on collaborating with industry and stakeholders to coordinate and carry out research, development, and demonstration projects focused on commercializing cost-effective products and procedures aligned with the goals and priorities set forth by the Department.
The Secretary shall administer the Center in conjunction with an eligible entity pursuant to an agreement between the Department and such entity. Such entity shall be selected on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
In administering the Center, the Secretary shall prioritize higher education energy-related research centers in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
The Center shall be located in proximity to critical transportation infrastructure connecting to an existing national pipeline transportation system and other Department monitoring assets, as determined by the Secretary.
In carrying out the functions described in subsection (a), the Center shall coordinate and collaborate with training centers of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation to facilitate knowledge sharing among, and enhanced training opportunities for, Federal and State pipeline safety inspectors and investigators.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall carry out a program of measurement research, development, demonstration, and standardization to—
ensure the integrity of pipeline facilities; and
support pipeline safety, security, efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.
From amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall allocate up to $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.
section 5, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030; and
section 6, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2026
and inserting 2030
; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking 1,200,000,000
and inserting $1,100,000,000
; and
in subsection (6)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2026
and inserting 2030
;
in subparagraph (A), by striking 600,000,000
and inserting $445,000,000
;
in subparagraph (B)—
by striking 200,000,000
and inserting $100,000,000
; and
by striking and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (C)—
by striking 1,000,000,000
and inserting $900,000,000
; and
by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: