U.S. President Donald Trump has officially granted approval for the Bridger Pipeline Expansion, a significant new oil pipeline project slated to transport crude oil from Canada into the United States for export and refining. This development marks a key step in expanding cross-border energy infrastructure.
The Bridger Pipeline Expansion, a three-foot-wide conduit, is designed to move as much as 550,000 barrels of oil daily. The planned route begins at the Canadian border in Montana and continues through eastern Montana and Wyoming, where it will connect with an existing pipeline network. Before construction can commence, the project will require further environmental clearances from both state and federal authorities. Company officials anticipate beginning construction next year.
Environmental organizations have voiced opposition to the project, citing concerns about the potential for pipeline ruptures and subsequent spills. At its maximum capacity, the 650-mile pipeline would transport two-thirds of the volume of oil carried by the more widely recognized Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL project’s permit was revoked by President Joe Biden in 2021, citing climate change concerns.
In contrast to the previous administration’s stance on pipeline projects, President Trump stated following the signing of the cross-border approval for the Bridger Pipeline Expansion, “Slightly different from the last administration. They wouldn’t sign a pipeline deal. And we have pipelines going up.” This decision reflects a differing approach to energy infrastructure development.
The Bridger Pipeline Expansion is sometimes referred to as “Keystone Light.” A notable aspect of this project is that it will not traverse any Native American reservations. Bridger Pipeline LLC has stated that over 70% of the pipeline will be constructed within existing pipeline corridors, and approximately 80% will be located on private land. The Casper, Wyoming-based company currently manages over 3,700 miles of oil gathering and transmission pipelines across various basins in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.
Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of True Companies, could potentially safeguard its project from future policy reversals by a subsequent administration if construction is completed before the end of President Trump’s current term. The company’s timeline projects construction starting in the fall of 2027, with completion anticipated by late 2028 or early 2029, aligning with the end of President Trump’s term in January 2029.
