H.R. 2613 would authorize appropriations from 2026 through 2030 for the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to research and develop advanced technologies for energy pipelines. The bill also would reallocate and extend certain authorizations for DOE programs specified under the CHIPS and Science Act.
The CHIPS and Science Act specified total authorization amounts over the 2023-2026 period. CBO considers the extension of those authorizations from 2027 through 2030 under H.R. 2613 as new authorizations. Accordingly, $75 million of the amounts authorized for 2026 are already authorized under current law, and the bill would increase authorizations of appropriations by $395 million over the 2027-2030 period. The bill would authorize the following amounts each year for DOE from 2027 through 2030:
$50 million to award financial assistance for projects that demonstrate advanced pipeline technologies;
$30 million to research and develop advanced materials and technologies for pipelines, in coordination with other agencies; and
$15 million to establish a National Pipeline Modernization Center to coordinate with the pipeline industry and other interested parties.
H.R. 2613 also would authorize the appropriation of $2.5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for NIST to conduct programs that measure and test advanced materials and technologies for pipelines.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget functions 270 (energy) and 370 (commerce and housing credit).
Table 1.
Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under H.R. 2613
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2026-2030
Advanced Pipeline Materials and Technologies Demonstration Initiative
Authorization
0
50
50
50
50
200
Estimated Outlays
0
1
5
15
28
49
Joint Research and Development Program
Authorization
0
30
30
30
30
120
Estimated Outlays
0
3
11
21
27
62
National Pipeline Modernization Center
Authorization
0
15
15
15
15
60
Estimated Outlays
0
9
14
15
15
53
NIST Pipeline Metrology
Authorization
3
3
3
3
3
15
Estimated Outlays
1
2
3
3
3
12
Total Changes
Authorization
3
98
98
98
98
395
Estimated Outlays
1
15
33
54
73
176
NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Assuming that the specified amounts will be provided in each year, and that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for similar programs, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2613 would cost $176 million over the 2026-2030 period.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Aaron Krupkin (for the Department of Energy) and David Hughes (for the National Institute of Standards and Technology). The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
