New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah propose new gas routes to expand U.S., tribal infrastructure reach

(UI) — The Western States and Tribal Nations (WSTN) Energy Initiative has released a new Rocky Mountain Gas Roadmap & Implementation Playbook, outlining two proposed pathways to expand the delivery of Rocky Mountain natural gas to U.S. and global markets.

The study, developed by consulting firm Guidehouse, identifies the Pacific Northwest Pathway and Southwest Pathway as the fastest and most cost-effective routes to move gas to domestic customers and export terminals serving Asian buyers. Both routes would leverage existing pipeline corridors to minimize new construction and environmental impacts, according to WSTN.

Funded by state and tribal partners — including Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, the Southern Ute Growth Fund, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation — the report positions Rockies gas as a competitive, lower-carbon resource capable of meeting rising global demand.

“This playbook is the culmination of years of work and is designed as a tool to help policymakers and commercial entities seize the major opportunities that Rockies natural gas offers,” said WSTN Chairman Jason Sandel. “We have the gas, it’s the cleanest gas, and we can deliver it quicker than any other.”

The roadmap was presented during a trade summit in Santa Fe with the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., following earlier trade missions to Asia by governors from New Mexico and Wyoming.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said the effort will “strengthen international collaboration and write the next chapter in global energy,” while Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon called the project key to “growing the Cowboy State economy” by rapidly transporting Wyoming gas to domestic and Asian markets.

According to WSTN, the plan emphasizes three competitive advantages for the region’s gas:

• Speed to market: Expansion can occur quickly using existing rights-of-way.
• Cost efficiency: Lower tariffs and shorter transit routes cut shipping costs.
• Low-carbon profile: Rockies producers rank among the nation’s leaders in methane reduction and certified gas programs.

WSTN President Andrew Browning added that the roadmap supports “long-term stable economic development, tribal self-determination, and lower global emissions.”

The report also calls for streamlined permitting, harmonized federal-state-tribal reviews, and public-private investment models to accelerate project implementation.

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