“First woody biomass BDO Zone Rating issued for California”

The Butte County Fire Safe Council and Ecostrat have announced the issue of an investment grade BDO Zone ‘BBB’ Rating for Woody Biomass.
The Butte County BDO Zone is the first ‘BBB’ rating in the State of California and extends a 75-mile drive distance from the centre point in Oroville, CA.
Butte County’s BDO Zone ‘BBB’ rating denotes good prospective viability of feedstock available to support the intake requirements of new biofuels, renewable chemical, biogas and biomaterial production plants, according to Ecostrat.
The rating signifies strong supply chain and infrastructure characteristics that meet the requirements for new facility construction and operations.
Designated as a Federal Opportunity Zone, the region features excellent industrial sites, including a biomass power plant.
The plant is in close proximity to a wastewater treatment plant, the Sierra Pacific Industries sawmill, a railroad spur and the Highway 70 Industrial Park - one of Northern California's largest industrial parks.
With low competition risk and cost-efficient access to rail and seaports, the region is ideal for hosting new biomass-based projects.
“The BDO Zone Rating highlights our community’s proactive approach to forest restoration and wildfire management,” stated Taylor Nilsson, executive director, Butte County Fire Safe Council. “We are excited to partner with biobased companies to utilise our abundant, underutilized woody biomass resources, reduce wildfire risk and create new market opportunities.”
Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative added, “As the first BDO Zone Rating for woody biomass in California, this investment-grade rating will pave the way for new sustainable biobased markets and play a vital role in supporting Butte County’s efforts to enhance fire safety in the region.”