E&E (Politico) by Nico Portuondo
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee passed legislation Tuesday that would support new federal collaboration with private entities to study and improve pipeline infrastructure.
The “Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act," H.R. 2613, from Reps. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), would authorize close to $250 million. The bill cleared the panel in a unanimous voice vote.
"This bill demonstrates that Republicans and Democrats can set aside our differences and promote meaningful legislation that enhances our leadership and energy research capabilities, and ensures a strong and safe return on the investment of American taxpayers," said Weber.
The legislation would specifically require the Department of Energy to work with the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and other agencies to establish the so-called Advanced Pipeline Materials and Technologies Demonstration Initiative.
That program would offer financial assistance to develop technologies to improve leak detection, retrofit existing pipelines, develop advanced manufacturing techniques and reduce environmental impacts.
Committee Republicans said the bill would help make sure pipelines remain the safest mode of transportation for natural gas and oil.
Ranking member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said the legislation could prevent future accidents like a 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California.
"The bill before us today tasked the DOE with developing and demonstrating technologies that could well have alerted authorities of the dangerous situation that caused the San Bruno pipeline accident," Lofgren said. "These technologies could have prevented that accident from happening, I think that alone would make this a worthy investment."
The legislation would create a National Pipeline Modernization Center at the DOE to improve public-private collaboration in efforts to lower costs around pipeline technologies, and establish program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology to promote research and development focused on pipeline safety, efficiency and sustainability.
A version of the bill passed the House last year but did not come up in the Senate.