H.R. 2613 — Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including "(1) Department," meaning the Department of Energy; "(2) eligible entity," meaning institutions of higher education (including historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions), nonprofit research organizations, DOE National Laboratories, private commercial entities, partnerships or consortia thereof that leverage existing DOE efforts, or other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary; "(3) Secretary," meaning the Secretary of Energy; and "(4) technical standard," meaning the term as defined in section 12(d)(5) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

This section directs coordination among federal agencies, in carrying out this Act, to avoid unnecessary duplication and achieve shared mission goals as follows: (1) requires the Secretary of Energy to coordinate with the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and specified Department of Energy (DOE) offices, including the Office of Science, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and other relevant cross-cutting DOE offices; (2) requires the Secretary of Transportation to ensure coordination between PHMSA, other appropriate DOT offices, and the Secretary of Energy; and (3) requires the Secretary of Energy to coordinate with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of the Interior, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, as appropriate.

This section establishes an advanced pipeline materials and technologies demonstration initiative (Initiative) within the Department of Energy (DOE). Under the Initiative, the Secretary of Energy must award financial assistance through a competitive merit review process to eligible entities for demonstration projects at low- to mid-technology readiness levels to deploy next-generation technologies applicable to pipelines and associated infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and underground or aboveground gas and liquid fuel storage facilities. Demonstration projects must advance research by DOE and the Department of Transportation and address focus areas such as (1) advanced leak detection and mitigation; (2) novel materials like corrosion-resistant alloys and coatings; (3) retrofitting methods; (4) advanced manufacturing; (5) real-time sensor technologies (e.g., wireless, fiber optic, and autonomous systems); (6) computational models, data analytics, and machine learning for infrastructure optimization and leak prediction; (7) self-healing functionalities; (8) autonomous robotics; (9) dynamic compressors; (10) cybersecurity; (11) environmental impact reduction; (12) tools for repurposing infrastructure for alternative fuels, blends, or carbon dioxide; and (13) improvements to LNG and storage facilities. In selecting projects, the Secretary must prioritize, to the maximum extent practicable, (1) regional diversity, including rural states; (2) technological diversity; (3) a mix of energy sources and substances (e.g., natural gas, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels, carbon dioxide, and blends); (4) leveraging existing infrastructure and non-Federal matching funds; (5) coordination with existing DOE demonstration programs; (6) technical and economic feasibility via lifecycle assessments; and (7) quantifiable reductions in environmental impacts on air, water, or soil, especially in underserved and rural communities. Demonstration projects must be located, to the maximum extent practicable, on sites with existing research infrastructure.

This section establishes a joint research and development program (Joint Program) within the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and in coordination with the pipeline demonstration initiative under section 40344 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), to conduct research projects on cost-effective advanced materials and technologies for pipeline transportation systems. The program targets projects at low technology readiness levels not pursued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Pipeline Safety Research Program; requires a memorandum of understanding (MOU) within one year of enactment to identify unique agency capabilities, avoid duplication, and enable cost sharing; prioritizes use of existing infrastructure at Department of Energy national laboratories, PHMSA initiatives, and NIST (with new infrastructure if appropriate); sets agency-specific goals and metrics for technological progress; selects projects to reflect diverse geographies, conditions, and markets with a balance of large and small projects and interagency transfers; and gives priority to research advancing the demonstration initiative and the National Pipeline Modernization Center under section 6 of this Act. The section preserves existing agency roles under section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-355) and sunsets five years after enactment.

This section establishes a National Pipeline Modernization Center, in carrying out the demonstration initiative under section 40344 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), as added by section 4 of this bill, and the Joint Program and subject to appropriations. The Center collaborates with industry and stakeholders to coordinate research, development, and demonstration projects focused on commercializing cost-effective products and procedures aligned with Department of Transportation goals and priorities. The Secretary of Transportation administers the Center via a competitive, merit-reviewed agreement with an eligible entity—prioritizing existing higher education energy-related research centers—for a period of up to five years; locates it near critical transportation infrastructure connected to the national pipeline system and other Department monitoring assets; coordinates with Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration training centers to enhance knowledge sharing and training for federal and state pipeline safety inspectors and investigators; and avoids duplication with the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety.

This section establishes a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) program of measurement research, development, demonstration, and standardization to ensure the integrity of pipeline facilities and support pipeline safety, security, efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. It directs NIST, in collaboration with the Secretary of Transportation and in consultation with the private sector and international standards organizations, to support related testing, evaluation, and research infrastructure and allocates up to $2.5 million from NIST appropriations for each of FY2026 through 2030.

This section authorizes appropriations from funds for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to carry out (1) section 5, at $20 million for FY2026 and $30 million for each of FY2027 through 2030; and (2) section 6, at $10 million for FY2026 and $15 million for each of FY2027 through 2030. As an offset, the section amends the authorization periods in section 10771 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to through FY2030 (from FY2026) for both offices and makes the following reductions: (1) for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, subparagraph (B) to $1.1 billion (from $1.2 billion); and (2) for the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, subparagraph (A) to $445 million (from $600 million), subparagraph (B) to $100 million (from $200 million), and subparagraph (C) to $900 million (from $1 billion), while adding subparagraph (D) authorizing $455 million for pipeline research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities.