(2) develop new infrastructure for potential 
projects, if appropriate. 
(d) GOALS AND METRICS.—The Secretary, the Sec-
retary of Transportation, and the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall develop goals 
and metrics for each agency in meeting technological 
progress under the Joint Program, consistent with exist-
ing United States energy safety, resilience, and security 
policies. 
(e) SELECTION OF PROJECTS.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, the Secretary, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, and the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall ensure the following with 
respect to the Joint Program: 
(1) Projects are carried out under conditions 
that represent a variety of geographies, physical con-
ditions, and market constraints. 
(2) Projects represent an appropriate balance of 
the following: 
(A) Larger, higher-cost projects. 
(B) Smaller, lower-cost projects. 
(3) To the maximum extent practicable, 
projects are transferred between participating agen-
cies based on the stage of research and capabilities 
of each agency. 
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(f) PRIORITY.—In carrying out the Joint Program, 
the Secretary, the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall, through consultation with the Initiative to 
identify and advance areas of research most needed for 
demonstration projects under the Initiative, give priority 
to research and demonstration projects that— 
(1) are likely to achieve technology readiness 
level necessary to be expediently demonstrated by 
the Initiative; and 
(2) are done in coordination with, or advance 
knowledge critical to, the Center established pursu-
ant to section 6. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL PIPELINE MODERNIZATION CENTER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Initiative and 
the Joint Program, the Secretary shall establish a Na-
tional Pipeline Modernization Center (referred to in this 
Act as the ‘‘Center’’), which shall focus on collaborating 
with industry and stakeholders to coordinate and carry out 
research, development, and demonstration projects fo-
cused on commercializing cost-effective products and pro-
cedures aligned with the goals and priorities set forth by 
the Department. 
(b) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall administer the 
Center in conjunction with an eligible entity pursuant to 
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an agreement between the Department and such entity. 
Such entity shall be selected on a competitive, merit-re-
viewed basis. 
(c) EXISTING CENTERS.—In administering the Cen-
ter, the Secretary shall prioritize higher education energy- 
related research centers in existence as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(d) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—An agreement under sub-
section (b) shall be for a period of not more than 
five years, subject to the availability of appropria-
tions. 
(2) RENEWAL.—The Secretary may renew an 
agreement under subsection (b) for a period of not 
more than five years. Any such renewal shall be con-
ducted on a merit-reviewed basis. 
(e) LOCATION.—The Center shall be located in prox-
imity to critical transportation infrastructure connecting 
to an existing national pipeline transportation system and 
other Department monitoring assets, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(f) COORDINATION WITH TRAINING AND QUALIFICA-
TIONS CENTER.—In carrying out the functions described 
in subsection (a), the Center shall coordinate and collabo-
rate with training centers of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
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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. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this Act, to remain available until ex-
pended, the following: 
(1) 
For 
activities 
under 
the 
Initiative, 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027. 
(2) For the Joint Program, $30,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 
(3) For the Center, $15,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2023 through 2027. 
Æ 
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