Utah’s Summit County receives ‘A’ rating for woody biomass

Summit County and Ecostrat have announced the issue of the Summit County BDO Zone.
The BDO Zone stretches across a 40-mile drive radius from Wanship, Utah in the US and stands as the inaugural BDO Zone rating in the state for Forest Residues and Pulpwood.
The prestigious ‘A’ rating indicates ‘high quality’ feedstock supply chains and infrastructure, attributed to minimal competition for pulpwood and forest residue, combined with an anticipated additional supply from standing dead timber, according to Ecostrat.
Additionally, implementation of forest fuel removal programmes by the US Forest Service, support likelihood of a stable and subsidised feedstock supply for the next 5 to 10 years, it continued.
“There is an abundance of ecosystem restoration byproducts from current and future forestry projects in Summit County and the surrounding areas,” said Summit County’s lands and natural resources director, Jessica Kirby.
“We are eager to see this woody biomass utilized in a value-added product rather than see it all burned as piles. Summit County is hopeful that this rating will attract the right investment to the area and that it will create new jobs and add economic value while simultaneously benefiting the environment.”
Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated: “This investment grade rating speaks to the high-level of 'bio-manufacturing readiness' of Summit County, UT.
"We hope that this 'A' rating will function to bring significant attention to this excellent region from bio-based project developers around the world.”