S 2980119th CongressIn Committee

Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act

Introduced: Oct 7, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-Kansas)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act, would require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of composite-material pipelines for transporting hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas. The study would assess current and potential composite materials, available data and tests, and relevant standards and authorizations. The process includes substantial public participation, with a pre-completion public meeting, a draft study open for at least 60 days of public comment, a post-comment public meeting to present findings, and a rulemaking process to consider permitting the use of composite pipelines for hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas blends within 18 months after the public meeting. The bill does not itself authorize funding but creates a structured timeline to evaluate and potentially regulate (through rulemaking) the use of composite pipelines in hydrogen infrastructure.

Key Points

1Short title: The bill may be cited as the “Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act.”
2Study subject and deadline: Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary must complete a study on the potential and current use of composite-material pipelines to safely transport hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas.
3Study considerations: The Secretary must evaluate commercially available composite materials, relevant tests and data (including data from other federal agencies), and recommended standards (including consensus standards) and federal authorizations related to these materials.
4Public participation requirements: The Secretary must (a) hold a pre-completion public meeting with stakeholders, (b) publish a draft study for at least 60 days of public comment, and (c) address substantive public comments in the final study.
5Public meeting after comments: Within 60 days after the comment period ends, the Secretary must hold a post-completion public meeting to present findings and responses to comments.
6Rulemaking timeline: Not later than 18 months after the post-completion public meeting, the Secretary must initiate a rulemaking, including a notice of proposed rulemaking to allow the use of composite materials for pipeline transportation of hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Pipeline operators and utilities involved in hydrogen infrastructure and natural gas systems.- Manufacturers and suppliers of compositePipeline materials (e.g., fiber-reinforced polymers, other composites).- Standards bodies and testing organizations (e.g., those developing consensus standards for composites and hydrogen compatibility).- Federal and state transportation safety and regulatory agencies.Secondary group/area affected- Local governments and communities near pipelines (safety, land use, potential deployment).- Environmental and consumer groups concerned with energy transition, safety, and leakage risks.- Research institutions and industry stakeholders involved in safety testing, material science, and hydrogen technologies.Additional impacts- Regulatory clarity and pathway: The bill creates a formal process leading to rulemaking, which could establish or update federal standards and approvals for composite pipelines.- Innovation and market development: By evaluating composites, the bill could spur new materials and designs for safer, lighter, or more corrosion-resistant pipelines.- Costs and implementation: Depending on findings, deployment may require investments in material testing, inspections, manufacturing, and retrofit of existing systems; there could be transitional regulatory requirements for compliance.- Safety and reliability considerations: Hydrogen embrittlement and permeability challenges, compatibility with existing natural gas systems, and long-term safety data will be central to conclusions and any rules.

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