Ashtabula County, Ohio

The Ashtabula County, Ohio BDO Zone for Miscanthus Biomass is rated ‘BB’.

Rating Issue Date: April 24, 2025.

'BB' ratings indicate moderate prospects for Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure (FS&I) with an elevated vulnerability to risk over time, particularly in the event of adverse business or economic conditions.

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BDO Zone RatingBB

Rating

Certified supply

49,500 gt/yr

Feedstock

Miscanthus

Rated

May 2025

Ashtabula County, OH holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘BB’ Rating for Miscanthus. Issued in May 2025, the rating certifies approximately 49,500 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Ashtabula, OH).

A ‘BB’ rating is a speculative grade rating, signalling a viable feedstock supply with elevated risk. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Ashtabula County, OH’s feedstock supply has undergone rigorous, standardized due diligence across 100+ risk indicators, the same framework applied to every BDO Zone across North America.

Every BDO Zone Rating assesses a region across three dimensions, mapped as expanding radii around a candidate site.

Feedstock surplus: Data indicating at least 50,000 tonnes per year of excess feedstock available to support typical intake of new biofuels manufacturing plants.
Supply chain strength: Evidence supporting long-term commitment to supply both quantity and quality by local farmers, forestry companies, food waste generators, haulers and municipalities.
Sound infrastructure: Suitable transportation, logistic, operating and supporting infrastructure to meet the requirements for new facility operations.

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BDO Zone, 25 mi

Supply Zone, 75 mi

Competition Zone, 150 mi

Assets & liabilities

Assets

Regional miscanthus cultivation and harvesting experience.
Majority of established miscanthus cropland located within 30 miles of Ashtabula.
Absence of competitors for miscanthus in the Competition Zone.
Well-developed infrastructure with rail spur, port access, and competitive electricity costs.

Liabilities

New developer will need to negotiate leasing and contract terms with landowners.
Aspects of miscanthus agronomy remain uncertain, including longevity and optimal fertilization regime.
Additional harvesting equipment required.
Subsidies may be required to establish additional cropland.
Sustained year-to-year production of the rated quantity is unproven.

Infrastructure & sites

JAB Property

The JAB property, located on just over 80 acres of publicly owned land in Ashtabula, is a prime site for industrial development. This site has excellent transportation infrastructure, sitting within 4 miles of I-90, 1.5 miles of the Ashtabula deep water port, and with an existing rail spur on site. Industrial utilities are available including heavy power, high pressure natural gas, 5 million gallons of excess capacity water, and a water treatment plan within 3000 feet of the site. If required, the Ashtabula County Port Authority can provide up to 70 million GPD raw water at various psi directly to the site. Situated within a 1.5 hour drive of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, this site provides close proximity to multiple metro areas for an industrial development.

Ashtabula City Industrial Park

48 Available acres located at the intersection of Route 531 and Route 11. Lots sizes range from 1 acre to 20 acres and can be combined to accommodate needs of business. Less than a half mile from a deep water port on Lake Erie: 6 miles north of I-90/Route 11, 62 miles northeast of Cleveland, 85 miles northeast of Akron, 60 miles north of Youngstown, 51 miles west of Erie, PA and 126 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, PA. Sale price is $25,000 (or less depending on job creation) per acre and can be sold per parcel. All utilities are present and site is ready for development. Incentives and abatements may be issued to buyers on a case by case basis. There are nine adjoining parcels. Easy access right off of SR 11. Fully improved and shovel ready. Design build opportunities may exist for qualified companies and businesses.

Nelson Industrial Park

The Nelson Industrial Park site, located halfway between Cleveland, OH and Erie, PA, it is approximately 94 acres that can be subdivided as needed and is owned by a single owner. All roads, sewers, water and electric utilities are in place. The gas line is approximately 1,000 feet away. This site is well suited for a light industrial development and has excellent transportation infrastructure, sitting just off I-90, and within 12 miles of the Ashtabula deep water port. The site is located in an enterprise zone and would be eligible for tax incentives through the county. For the portion of site located in Saybrook Township, Commercial zoning would include warehousing. To otherwise change zoning would take @ +/- 120 days. For the portion of site located in Austinburg Township, rezoned to IOP/Commercial in 2020.