Montana Prepares for $12 Billion Bridger Pipeline Expansion

Montana is at the starting line for a $12 billion pipeline expansion linking Canadian crude to Wyoming.

State and federal agencies have launched a public comment period for the Bridger Pipeline Expansion, a 647-mile, 36-inch pipeline that would carry roughly 550,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Phillips County, Montana, to a terminal near Guernsey, Wyoming. This initiative represents a structural attempt to increase crude transport capacity along a route paralleling existing infrastructure, requiring extensive environmental reviews and permits.

The proposed pipeline crosses about 138 miles in Montana and 210 miles in eastern Wyoming, including sensitive public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Thunder Basin National Grassland. Bridger Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of True Cos., faces scrutiny given its $12.5 million penalty paid in 2023 for prior spills. The company has responded by launching FlowState, an artificial leak detection firm recently awarded a $2 million state grant, aiming to improve spill response and prevention. Construction could commence by July 2027, pending regulatory approvals and public feedback.

Montanans may view the project through the lens of past pipeline challenges and environmental concerns, especially as the route touches federal lands and parallels existing pipelines. The region’s open spaces and resource-dependent economy might create both incentives for development and heightened vigilance regarding environmental risks. This balancing act is familiar terrain for Montana’s business and civic communities.

By Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile