Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act
Bill: H.R.9349 | Sponsor: Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. (R-TX)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act
This bill establishes programs for research on and deployment of advanced materials and technologies applicable to pipelines and associated infrastructure (e.g., liquified natural gas facilities and liquid fuel storage facilities).

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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Next Generation Pipelines Research 
and Development Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 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 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)));
                    (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) through (D) 
                that leverages existing Department efforts; or
                    (F) any other entities the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (3) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the 
        demonstration initiative established under section 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 duplication and 
        achieve shared mission goals by coordinating with the Pipeline 
        and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the Department 
        of Transportation and across all relevant program offices at 
        the Department of Energy, including--
                    (A) the Office of Science;
                    (B) the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon 
                Management;
                    (C) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
                Energy;
                    (D) the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, 
                and Emergency Response;
                    (E) the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy;
                    (F) the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations; and
                    (G) any other cross-cutting program office 
                determined appropriate; and
            (2) the Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 
        participation of and coordination with the Department of Energy 
        of--
                    (A) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
                Administration of the Department of Transportation; and
                    (B) any other program office of the Department of 
                Transportation determined appropriate.

SEC. 4. ADVANCED PIPELINE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES 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 
technologies that--
            (1) are applicable to pipelines and associated 
        infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas facilities and 
        underground and above ground gas and liquid fuel storage 
        facilities; and
            (2) involve the development of next generation pipeline 
        systems, components, and related technologies.
    (b) Demonstration Project Focus Areas.--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:
            (1) Advanced leak detection and mitigation tools and 
        technologies.
            (2) 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.
            (3) Technologies and methods for retrofitting existing 
        pipelines, resolving material compatibility issues, and 
        minimizing leakage, such as field protective coatings and 
        material treatment.
            (4) 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.
            (5) 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:
                    (A) Wireless sensors, such as surface acoustic wave 
                sensors.
                    (B) Advanced and cost-effective electrochemical 
                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 following:
                    (A) Multiscale modeling, characterization, and 
                optimization of transmission and distribution systems 
                and components to aid in planning for optimized and 
                resilient infrastructure.
                    (B) Correlation between sensor and emissions 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 monitoring 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.
            (11) 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.
            (12) 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.
            (13) Tools and technologies applicable to improving the 
        safety, operation, and efficiency of liquefied natural gas 
        facilities and gas and liquid fuel storage facilities.
    (c) Selection Requirements.--In selecting eligible 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 located in rural 
        States.
            (2) Prioritize technological diversity among eligible 
        entities.
            (3) Prioritize a diverse mix of energy, substances, fuel 
        sources, and byproducts, including the following:
                    (A) Gas and liquid hydrocarbons, including natural 
                gas, methane, ethane, and liquefied natural 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 determines 
                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 coordinated 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 impact.
    (d) Location.--To the maximum extent practicable, demonstration 
projects under the Initiative shall be located on sites with existing 
research infrastructure or with the ability to coordinate with existing 
Department user facilities 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 transportation systems; and
            (3) 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.
    (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 understanding with the Secretary of Transportation and 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
administer the Joint Program. Such memorandum shall require each 
participating agency to--
            (1) identify unique research capabilities to contribute 
        while avoiding duplication of existing efforts; and
            (2) include cost sharing and cost reimbursement 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, including 
                National Laboratories;
                    (B) Department of Transportation initiatives, 
                including any such initiatives carried out through the 
                Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; 
                and
                    (C) the National Institute of Standards and 
                Technology; and
            (2) develop new infrastructure for potential projects, if 
        appropriate.
    (d) Goals and Metrics.--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 in 
meeting technological progress under the Joint Program, consistent with 
existing United States energy safety, resilience, and security 
policies.
    (e) Selection of Projects.--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:
            (1) Projects are carried out under conditions that 
        represent a variety of geographies, physical conditions, 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 agencies based on the stage 
        of research and capabilities of each agency.
    (f) Priority.--In carrying out the Joint Program, the Secretary, 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 
the Secretary of Transportation 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 pursuant 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 National 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 focused on commercializing cost-effective products and 
procedures 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 an agreement between 
the Department and such entity. Such entity shall be selected on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
    (c) Existing Centers.--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.
    (d) Period of Performance.--
            (1) In general.--An agreement under subsection (b) shall be 
        for a period of not more than five years, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations.
            (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 conducted on a merit-reviewed basis.
    (e) Location.--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.
    (f) Coordination With Training and Qualifications Center.--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.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this Act, to remain available until expended, 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 fiscal years 
        2023 through 2027.
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