A number of mining companies have proposed establishing vertically integrated operations that combine mining and refining phases. Researchers hope that such integrated supply chains will be more environmentally friendly, and acceptable to residents living near proposed mine sites. While much attention is often placed on examining the expansion of such mining in the United States, the subsequent refining component—the steps where the raw materials are transformed into usable intermediate and final products—is an often-overlooked dimension of the supply chain. This project will investigate the social and technical factors that impact the development of vertically integrated mine-refinery projects and examine how they might impact local communities and Indigenous populations. It will focus on studying vertically integrated projects for nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) refining, which are commonly mined together and are used in clean energy technologies like lithium-ion batteries. There are several planned projects to build out this refining capacity in the years ahead, many of which are expected to be located near Indigenous lands. This proposed effort will provide critical insights to understand the potential role of these refineries in supporting the equitable buildout of domestic Ni and Co production capacity. This is an interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty at the Colorado School of Mines and Fort Lewis College, a Native-American Serving Non-Tribal Institution, located in Durango, CO. In addition to academic research outputs, the team will broadly disseminate research findings through presentations at the Colorado School of Mines Payne Institute for Public Policy's annual Critical Minerals Symposium and through a Symposium on Indigenous Communities and Energy Transitions to be held at Fort Lewis College.