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.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act creates a multi-agency federal research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) program focused on modernizing the nation's pipeline infrastructure. It amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to establish an Advanced Pipeline Materials and Technologies Demonstration Initiative within the Department of Energy, creates a Joint Research and Development Program between DOE, the Department of Transportation (via PHMSA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and establishes a National Pipeline Modernization Center to commercialize new pipeline technologies. The bill also directs NIST to carry out pipeline metrology research. Authorized funding totals approximately $500 million over fiscal years 2026-2030, with an additional $455 million earmarked for pipeline RD&D within existing CHIPS and Science Act authorization.
Who Benefits and How
Pipeline technology companies and advanced materials manufacturers are the primary commercial beneficiaries, gaining access to hundreds of millions in federal grant and demonstration funding for next-generation pipeline materials, advanced sensors, leak detection systems, autonomous inspection robotics, machine learning analytics, cybersecurity tools, and self-healing pipeline technologies. Oil and gas pipeline operators benefit from federally funded research that will improve the safety, efficiency, and longevity of their infrastructure while reducing environmental liability, with explicit provisions covering natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, CO2, biofuels, and blended fuel transport. National Laboratories and universities -- particularly HBCUs, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions -- gain new research funding streams and are prioritized as eligible entities. NIST gains a dedicated pipeline metrology program with $2.5 million per year in authorized appropriations. Rural and underserved communities are prioritized for environmental impact reduction projects. The hydrogen supply chain industry benefits from explicit inclusion of hydrogen, ammonia, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers as priority fuel sources for demonstration projects.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Energy takes on substantial new coordination and administration responsibilities across multiple offices (EERE, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Office of Science, ARPA-E, Clean Energy Demonstrations, CESER) and must establish competitive merit review processes for awarding grants. DOE must also stand up and administer the National Pipeline Modernization Center. The Department of Transportation must ensure PHMSA participation and coordinate training centers with the new Center. NIST must execute a new metrology program. The bill restructures existing CHIPS and Science Act authorizations -- reducing some line items (e.g., cutting the Office of Fossil Energy general authorization from $600M to $445M, and another from $200M to $100M) to carve out $455M for pipeline-specific activities, meaning other DOE research programs under those authorizations may face reduced funding.
Key Provisions
- Establishes the Advanced Pipeline Materials and Technologies Demonstration Initiative within DOE, funded at $45M (FY2026) and $50M/year (FY2027-2030) for competitive grants to eligible entities
- Creates a Joint Research and Development Program between DOE, DOT/PHMSA, and NIST requiring a memorandum of understanding within one year
- Establishes a National Pipeline Modernization Center focused on commercializing pipeline technologies, administered with a competitively selected higher education partner, funded at $10M (FY2026) and $15M/year (FY2027-2030)
- Directs NIST to carry out pipeline metrology research at $2.5M/year for FY2026-2030
- Covers a broad technology portfolio: advanced materials, leak detection, sensors, autonomous robotics, AI/ML analytics, cybersecurity, self-healing pipelines, compressor technologies, and infrastructure repurposing for alternative fuels
- Amends CHIPS and Science Act authorizations to redirect $455M toward pipeline RD&D activities
- All demonstration and research programs sunset five years after enactment
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Establishes a multi-agency federal program for pipeline research, development, and demonstration by creating a DOE demonstration initiative, a joint DOE-DOT-NIST R&D program, a National Pipeline Modernization Center, and a NIST metrology program, with approximately $500 million in new authorizations plus $455 million redirected from existing CHIPS and Science Act funds over FY2026-2030.
Key Policy Areas
Energy, Infrastructure, Science & Technology, Transportation, Environment
Primary Purpose
Establishes a multi-agency federal program for pipeline research, development, and demonstration by creating a DOE demonstration initiative, a joint DOE-DOT-NIST R&D program, a National Pipeline Modernization Center, and a NIST metrology program, with approximately $500 million in new authorizations plus $455 million redirected from existing CHIPS and Science Act funds over FY2026-2030.
Policy Domains
Whole Bill - Next Generation Pipeline RD&D
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Pipeline technology companies and advanced materials manufacturers
- Oil and gas pipeline operators
- National Laboratories
- Universities (especially HBCUs, tribal colleges, and MSIs)
- Hydrogen supply chain companies
- Sensor and autonomous robotics companies
- Cybersecurity firms serving energy infrastructure
- LNG facility operators
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Department of Energy (multi-office coordination and program administration)
- Department of Transportation / PHMSA (participation and training coordination)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (new metrology program)
- Other DOE research programs (reduced authorizations under CHIPS and Science Act reallocation)
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Weber of Texas (for himself and Ms. Ross) introduced …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
LNG facility operators, Oil and gas pipeline operators, Pipeline RD&D program participants (joint program and center)
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (reduced general authorization), DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (reduced general authorization), Department of Energy
National Institute of Standards and Technology faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Federal and state pipeline safety inspectors
Negative-direction: DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (reduced general authorization), DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (reduced general authorization), Department of Energy, Department of Energy (EERE and Fossil Energy offices), Department of Energy (multiple program offices), Department of Transportation / PHMSA, PHMSA training centers, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
AI/ML and data analytics companies, Cybersecurity firms, National Laboratories
Positive-direction: AI/ML and data analytics companies, Cybersecurity firms, National Laboratories, Nonprofit research organizations, Pipeline measurement and testing equipment companies, Standards development organizations
Negative-direction: Non-pipeline DOE research programs (reduced available funding)
HBCUs, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions, Universities and National Laboratories, Universities and higher education institutions
Sensor and monitoring technology companies
Hydrogen and alternative fuel companies, Hydrogen supply chain companies
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_director"
- → Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Energy
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- "the_secretary_of_transportation"
- → Secretary of Transportation
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology