I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9349 
To improve public-private partnerships and increase Federal research, develop-
ment, and demonstration related to the evolution of next generation 
pipeline systems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 
Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. LATURNER, Mr. CAREY, 
Mr. OBERNOLTE, Mrs. KIM of California, and Mr. BABIN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Generation Pipe-
lines Research and Development Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) 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 enti-
ties 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))); 
(B) a nonprofit research organization; 
(C) a National Laboratory (as such term is 
defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); 
(D) a private commercial entity; 
(E) a partnership or consortium of two or 
more entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
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through (D) that leverages existing Department 
efforts; or 
(F) any other entities the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(3) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Initiative’’ means 
the demonstration initiative established under sec-
tion 4. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 3. COORDINATION. 
In carrying out this Act— 
(1) the Secretary shall avoid unnecessary dupli-
cation and achieve shared mission goals by coordi-
nating with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration of the Department of Trans-
portation and across all relevant program offices at 
the Department of Energy, including— 
(A) the Office of Science; 
(B) the Office of Fossil Energy and Car-
bon Management; 
(C) the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy; 
(D) the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy 
Security, and Emergency Response; 
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(E) the Advanced Research Projects Agen-
cy–Energy; 
(F) the Office of Clean Energy Dem-
onstrations; and 
(G) any other cross-cutting program office 
determined appropriate; and 
(2) the Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 
participation of and coordination with the Depart-
ment of Energy of— 
(A) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration of the Department of 
Transportation; and 
(B) any other program office of the De-
partment of Transportation determined appro-
priate. 
SEC. 4. ADVANCED PIPELINE MATERIALS AND TECH-
NOLOGIES DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE.—The Secretary 
shall establish a demonstration 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 tech-
nologies that— 
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(1) are applicable to pipelines and associated 
infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas facili-
ties and underground and above ground gas and liq-
uid fuel storage facilities; and 
(2) involve the development of next generation 
pipeline systems, components, and related tech-
nologies. 
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOCUS AREAS.—In 
carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary shall select dem-
onstration 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: 
(1) Advanced leak detection and mitigation 
tools and technologies. 
(2) Novel materials, including alloy and non-
metallic materials, to improve integrity for new and 
existing pipelines, such as pipeline coatings, sleeves, 
and liners, and corrosion resistant materials, includ-
ing maximum and minimum flow rates and immu-
nity to electrical discharge processes. 
(3) Technologies and methods for retrofitting 
existing pipelines, resolving material compatibility 
issues, and minimizing leakage, such as field protec-
tive coatings and material treatment. 
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(4) Advanced manufacturing approaches for 
producing, fitting, and coupling pipelines, including 
the fabrication of higher performance pipeline mate-
rials and new extrusion technologies or methods to 
join ultra-high strength and corrosion resistant ma-
terials at a scale for distribution. 
(5) Advanced sensor technologies and processes 
that enable real-time or in situ monitoring of pipe-
line assets to assess and mitigate leaks, both inter-
nal and external to the pipeline, which may include 
the following: 
(A) Wireless sensors, such as surface 
acoustic wave sensors. 
(B) Advanced and cost-effective electro-
chemical sensors. 
(C) Distributed fiber optic sensors. 
(D) Autonomous sensor systems, including 
uncrewed aircraft. 
(E) Optical methods. 
(F) 
Multi-use 
platforms 
for 
diverse 
sources. 
(G) Hybrid data-analysis platforms. 
(6) Advanced computational, data analytics, 
and machine learning models to achieve the fol-
lowing: 
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(A) Multiscale modeling, characterization, 
and optimization of transmission and distribu-
tion systems and components to aid in planning 
for optimized and resilient infrastructure. 
(B) Correlation between sensor and emis-
sions data at all operational points and across 
a variety of scales to assure system integrity 
spanning large areas. 
(C) Accurate material lifecycle predictions 
and simulation platforms to forecast pipeline 
health. 
(D) Secure real time autonomous moni-
toring and repair capabilities. 
(E) Mapping and monitoring of structural 
health parameters, such as corrosion. 
(7) Self-healing and self-repair functionalities, 
including by chemical treatment methods. 
(8) Autonomous robotic and patch technologies 
for inspection and repair. 
(9) Dynamic compressor technologies, including 
retrofit kits for existing compressor systems. 
(10) Strategies and technologies for integrated 
cybersecurity 
considerations 
and 
countering 
cyberattacks. 
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(11) Technologies and methods to reduce poten-
tial environmental impacts, including at the atmos-
pheric and subsurface level, associated with pipe-
lines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and gas and liq-
uid fuel storage facilities, such as equipment failure. 
(12) Tools to evaluate geographical pipeline 
data for the feasibility of repurposing existing infra-
structure for safe and effective transport and use of 
alternative fuels, blends, and carbon dioxide. 
(13) Tools and technologies applicable to im-
proving the safety, operation, and efficiency of lique-
fied natural gas facilities and gas and liquid fuel 
storage facilities. 
(c) SELECTION REQUIREMENTS.—In selecting eligi-
ble entities for demonstration projects under the Initiative, 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
take the following actions: 
(1) Encourage regional diversity among eligible 
entities, including participation by such entities lo-
cated in rural States. 
(2) Prioritize technological diversity among eli-
gible entities. 
(3) Prioritize a diverse mix of energy, sub-
stances, fuel sources, and byproducts, including the 
following: 
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(A) Gas and liquid hydrocarbons, including 
natural gas, methane, ethane, and liquefied nat-
ural gas. 
(B) Carbon dioxide. 
(C) Hydrogen. 
(D) Biofuels. 
(E) Water. 
(F) Substances in the hydrogen supply 
chain, including ammonia and liquid organic 
hydrogen carriers. 
(G) Blends of gases or liquids, including 
hydrogen blends. 
(H) Any other source the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(4) Prioritize projects that leverage and are 
complementary to existing energy infrastructure. 
(5) Prioritize projects that leverage matching 
funds from non-Federal sources. 
(6) Ensure that selected projects are coordi-
nated with and expand on the existing technology 
demonstration programs of the Department. 
(7) Evaluate projects and topics for technical 
performance and economic feasibility as part of 
lifecycle assessments for return on investment im-
pact. 
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(d) LOCATION.—To the maximum extent practicable, 
demonstration projects under the Initiative shall be lo-
cated on sites with existing research infrastructure or with 
the ability to coordinate with existing Department user fa-
cilities and research centers. 
SEC. 5. JOINT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 
in coordination with the Initiative, shall establish within 
the Department a joint research and development program 
(referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Joint Program’’) to carry 
out basic research projects that— 
(1) develop cost-effective advanced materials 
and technologies for pipeline transportation systems 
at different scales; 
(2) enable the commercialization of innovative 
materials and technologies for pipeline transpor-
tation systems; and 
(3) are at a low technology readiness level and 
not pursued by the Pipeline Safety Research Pro-
gram of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safe-
ty Administration of the Department of Transpor-
tation. 
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(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of under-
standing with the Secretary of Transportation and the Di-
rector of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology to administer the Joint Program. Such memo-
randum shall require each participating agency to— 
(1) identify unique research capabilities to con-
tribute while avoiding duplication of existing efforts; 
and 
(2) include cost sharing and cost reimburse-
ment abilities among participating agencies. 
(c) INFRASTRUCTURE.—In carrying out the Joint 
Program, the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation, 
and the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology shall— 
(1) use existing research infrastructure at— 
(A) Department of Energy facilities, in-
cluding National Laboratories; 
(B) Department of Transportation initia-
tives, including any such initiatives carried out 
through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration; and 
(C) the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology; and 
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