[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9349 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9349
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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 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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