I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7200 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a hydrogen infrastructure 
finance and innovation pilot program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2024 
Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself and Mr. PETERS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a hydrogen 
infrastructure finance and innovation pilot program, 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 ‘‘Hydrogen Infrastruc-
ture Finance and Innovation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STUDY. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with 
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the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, 
the Administrator of the Energy Information Administra-
tion, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
shall conduct a study subject to notice and public com-
ment— 
(1) to fully assess and report the potential lay-
out of pipeline corridors, including existing and new 
infrastructure, that— 
(A) are robust against a range of projected 
hydrogen demand futures; and 
(B) reflect the potential to site within, or 
adjacent to, existing pipeline or other linear in-
frastructure corridors; 
(2) to assess the costs associated with each in-
frastructure scenario described in paragraph (1); 
(3) to synthesize the results from research, de-
velopment, and demonstration projects on materials 
and metallurgy for transporting and storing hydro-
gen and hydrogen-based fuels, such as ammonia; 
(4) to determine outstanding questions with re-
gard to research, development, and demonstration of 
infrastructure for transporting and storing hydrogen 
and hydrogen-based fuels, such as ammonia; 
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(5) to investigate the behavior and environ-
mental impact of hydrogen leakage in pipelines and 
from geologic storage sites and nongeologic storage 
equipment; 
(6) to determine best practices for the construc-
tion and maintenance of hydrogen pipelines; 
(7) to determine the reduction in carbon inten-
sity at various levels of hydrogen blending into the 
natural gas network; and 
(8) to establish a framework for the measure-
ment, reporting, and management of hydrogen leaks. 
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BOARD-REGULATED
RATES.—The term 
‘‘Board-regulated rates’’ means rates regulated by 
the Surface Transportation Board. 
(2) 
COMMISSION-REGULATED
RATES.—The 
term ‘‘Commission-regulated rates’’ means rates reg-
ulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis-
sion. 
(3) COMMON
CARRIER.—The term ‘‘common 
carrier’’ means a transportation infrastructure oper-
ator or owner that— 
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(A) publishes a publicly available tariff 
containing the just and reasonable rates, terms, 
and conditions of nondiscriminatory service; 
and 
(B) holds itself out to provide transpor-
tation services to the public for a fee. 
(4) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘eligible 
activity’’ means an activity described in subsection 
(g)(2) relating to, or carried out in connection with, 
an eligible project. 
(5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, 
trust, non-Federal governmental entity, agency, or 
instrumentality, or other entity. 
(6) ELIGIBLE PROJECT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the term ‘‘eligible project’’ means an 
infrastructure project for hydrogen transpor-
tation, storage, or delivery, including pipeline, 
shipping, rail, refueling, or other infrastructure, 
or associated equipment, as the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate. 
(B) INCLUSION OF PIPELINE PROJECTS.— 
The term ‘‘eligible project’’ includes a pipeline 
project only if the project is for— 
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(i) the construction of 1 or more new 
pipelines that are capable of handling pure 
hydrogen; or 
(ii) the retrofitting of 1 or more exist-
ing natural gas pipelines— 
(I) to transport a blend of hydro-
gen and natural gas; and 
(II) in a manner that will signifi-
cantly increase the capacity of the 
pipelines to transport hydrogen, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
(7) ELIGIBLE PROJECT COST.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible 
project costs’’ means— 
(i) the costs of carrying out an eligible 
activity; and 
(ii) any costs described in subpara-
graph (B) relating to, or incurred in con-
nection with, an eligible project. 
(B) COSTS
DESCRIBED.—The costs re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) are— 
(i) the costs of capitalized interest 
necessary to meet market requirements, 
the costs of reasonably required reserve 
funds, capital issuance expenses, and any 
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other carrying costs during construction of 
the applicable infrastructure; and 
(ii) transaction costs associated with 
financing an eligible project, including the 
cost of legal counsel and technical consult-
ants. 
(8) 
HIFIA 
PILOT
PROGRAM.—The 
term 
‘‘HIFIA pilot program’’ means the hydrogen infra-
structure finance and innovation pilot program es-
tablished under subsection (b)(1). 
(9) LETTER OF INTEREST.—The term ‘‘letter 
of interest’’ means a letter submitted by a potential 
applicant prior to an application for a grant or a 
loan under the HIFIA pilot program that— 
(A) is in a format prescribed by the Sec-
retary on the website of the HIFIA pilot pro-
gram; 
(B) describes the project and the location, 
purpose, and cost of the project; 
(C) outlines the proposed financial plan, 
including— 
(i) the requested grant or loan assist-
ance; and 
(ii) the proposed obligor, if applicable; 
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(D) provides a status of environmental re-
view; and 
(E) provides information regarding satis-
faction of other eligibility requirements of the 
HIFIA pilot program. 
(10) LOW-INCOME OR DISADVANTAGED COMMU-
NITY.—The term ‘‘low-income or disadvantaged 
community’’ means a community (including a city, a 
town, a county, and any reasonably isolated and di-
visible segment of a larger municipality) with an an-
nual median household income that is less than 100 
percent of the statewide annual median household 
income for the State in which the community is lo-
cated, according to the most recent decennial census. 
(11) OBLIGOR.—The term ‘‘obligor’’ means an 
eligible entity that is liable for payment of the prin-
cipal of, or interest on, a loan under the HIFIA pilot 
program. 
(12) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, the Surface Transportation Board, and 
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the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, shall establish a 
hydrogen infrastructure finance and innovation pilot 
program under which the Secretary shall provide— 
(A) financial assistance to eligible entities 
for eligible projects through— 
(i) grants; or 
(ii) long-term, low-cost supplemental 
loans; and 
(B) technical assistance in accordance with 
subsection (l). 
(2) COORDINATION WITH HYDROGEN HUBS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—To ensure that the 
HIFIA pilot program is compatible with, and 
complementary to, any hydrogen hubs developed 
under any other law, the Secretary, to the max-
imum extent practicable and subject to sub-
paragraph (B), shall coordinate the establish-
ment of the HIFIA pilot program with— 
(i) any program to support the devel-
opment of hydrogen hubs that is required 
to be established under any other law; and 
(ii) the development of those hydrogen 
hubs. 
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(B) TREATMENT.—Coordination with a 
hydrogen hub under subparagraph (A) shall 
not— 
(i) be considered to be a priority cri-
terion in determining whether to provide 
assistance for an eligible project under the 
HIFIA pilot program; or 
(ii) preclude the provision of assist-
ance under the HIFIA pilot program for 
another eligible project that— 
(I) meets the criteria described in 
subsections (d) and (e); and 
(II) is an objectively superior 
project, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide 
financial assistance for an eligible project under the 
HIFIA pilot program if— 
(A) the eligible entity proposing to carry 
out the project submits a letter of interest prior 
to submission of an application under para-
graph (2) with respect to the project; and 
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(B) the eligible entity and the eligible 
project meet all applicable requirements of this 
section. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—To be eligible for a 
grant or a loan under the HIFIA pilot pro-
gram, an eligible entity shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(B) ELECTION.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible entity 
may elect to apply for a grant, a loan, or 
both under the HIFIA pilot program. 
(ii) DECISION.—The Secretary shall 
have discretion to award any mix of grants 
and loans under the HIFIA pilot program 
as the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate, including with respect to each eligi-
ble entity that applies for both a grant and 
a loan. 
(C) APPLICATION
PROCESSING
PROCE-
DURES.— 
(i) NOTICE
OF
COMPLETE
APPLICA-
TION.—Not later than 30 days after the 
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date of receipt of an application under this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall provide to 
the applicant a written notice describing 
whether— 
(I) the application is complete; or 
(II) additional information or 
materials are needed to complete the 
application. 
(ii) APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF APPLI-
CATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of issuance of a written notice under 
clause (i), the Secretary shall provide to 
the applicant a written notice informing 
the applicant whether the Secretary has 
approved or disapproved the application. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In selecting eligible projects to re-
ceive a grant or a loan under the HIFIA pilot program, 
the Secretary shall give priority to eligible projects that— 
(1) will provide greater net impact in avoiding 
or reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; and 
(2) are sited in a manner that minimizes envi-
ronmental disturbance and other siting concerns, in-
cluding by being sited within, or adjacent to, existing 
pipeline or other linear infrastructure corridors. 
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(e) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting eligible projects 
to receive a grant or a loan under the HIFIA pilot pro-
gram, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, 
shall select projects that— 
(1) are large-capacity, common carrier infra-
structure; 
(2) enable geographical diversity in associated 
projects and supply chains to produce, use, or store 
hydrogen, with the goal of enabling projects in all 
major regions of the United States with current hy-
drogen demand and potential future hydrogen de-
mand; 
(3) aid in creating economies of scale for hydro-
gen uptake in applications requiring an affordable 
solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 
(4) will generate the greatest benefit to low-in-
come or disadvantaged communities; and 
(5) will— 
(A) maximize creation or retention of jobs 
in the United States; and 
(B) provide the highest job quality. 
(f) LOANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the HIFIA 
pilot program, the Secretary shall make loans to eli-
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gible entities, the proceeds of which shall be used to 
finance eligible projects. 
(2) INTEREST RATE.—The interest rate of a 
loan under the HIFIA pilot program shall be not 
less than the interest rate on United States Treas-
ury securities of a similar maturity to the maturity 
of the loan on the date of closing on the loan. 
(3) MATURITY DATE.—The final maturity date 
of a loan provided under the HIFIA pilot program 
shall be the date that is 30 years after the date of 
substantial completion of the applicable eligible 
project. 
(4) REPAYMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a repayment schedule for each loan pro-
vided under the HIFIA pilot program. 
(B) COMMENCEMENT.—Repayment of a 
loan provided under the HIFIA pilot program 
shall commence on the date of substantial com-
pletion of the applicable eligible project for 
which the loan was provided. 
(C) DEFERRAL
OF
REPAYMENT.—If, at 
any time during the 5-year period beginning on 
the date of substantial completion of an eligible 
project, the project is unable to generate suffi-
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