Trail of Chiefs

The project’s goal is to accelerate and transform carbon management in the upper American West by developing an open-access pipeline network, capable of supporting 60 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. The project emphasizes regulatory compliance, safety standards, and community engagement, ensuring meaningful participation from local stakeholders, tribal communities, and workforce organizations. This effort will produce detailed engineering designs, environmental assessments, risk management plans, and community benefits strategies aimed at fostering equitable, environmentally responsible infrastructure aligned with net-zero emission goals by 2050.  

Additionally, the initiative aligns with Justice40 goals, ensuring equitable benefits for disadvantaged communities and fostering well-paying jobs with fair labor practices. By leveraging regional strengths and addressing environmental justice concerns, the project aims to reduce emissions, create high-wage jobs, and ensure community engagement. Through collaboration with stakeholders, labor unions, and disadvantaged communities, Trail of the Chiefs seeks to build a scalable and equitable carbon management infrastructure while informing DOE’s national decarbonization strategies.