Chippewa County, Wisconsin
The Chippewa County, Wisconsin BDO Zone for Corn Stover is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: April 17, 2024.
'A' ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.
Chippewa County, WI holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn stover. Issued in Apr 2024, the rating certifies approximately 760,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mi driving distance from the center point (Chippewa Falls, WI).
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Chippewa County, WI’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.
Assets & liabilities
- Steady increase in grain crops planted area, pointing to a positive outlook for corn stover availability.
- Lack of established competition for corn stover within 150-mi drive distance from Chippewa Falls, WI.
- Access to North America's largest and farthest inland freshwater port, providing access to global markets.
- Rail line running adjacent to the industrial site and the road network provides east west access from Canadian border in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, to Seattle, WA.
- Corn stover supply chains need to be established due to a lack of historical commercial-scale demand for corn stover
- Large number of farmers produce cash crops and cattle, providing them revenue options that may impact their willingness to harvest corn stover for their livestock use.
- Yield variability within the Supply Zone means a more fragmented supply chain with increased production risk.
Infrastructure & sites
- 10 acres commercial, 50 acres manufacturing sites
- Wisconsin Certified Shovel-Ready Site by Xcel Energy and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, addressing all major permitting and development issues
- Zoning: Mixed use, lite manufacturing, heavy manufacturing
- Access via U.S. Highway 53 and State Highways 27, 29, 40, 64, 124, 178
- Served by Chippewa Valley Regional Airport and Union Pacific, Progressive Rail, Canadian National railroads
- 70 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, 250 miles northwest of Milwaukee
- Workforce supported by local universities and colleges
- 110 total/107 developable acres in Stanley, WI, Chippewa County, less than 30 miles from Eau Claire
- Wisconsin Certified Shovel-Ready Site by Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, addressing all major permitting and development issues
- Zoning: Industrial
- Access via Highway 29, centrally located between Minneapolis-St. Paul, Green Bay, and Chicago markets
- Utilities: Electrical (7.2 KV, 12.47 KV lines on site; 115 KV line 100 ft away; substation 1 mi), Gas (4 in. line, 4,000 MCF/mo. upgradeable), Water (12 in. main 500 ft east), Sanitary Sewer (8 in. main 500 ft east)
- Modern infrastructure, skilled workforce, quality of life
- Ideal for metal manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, energy
- 140+ acres divided into three parcels: 36 acres (north), 44 and 60 acres (south)
- Zoning: Industrial
- Located directly off the 4-lane Highway 53 in New Auburn, WI
- Owners open to leasing, selling, or subdividing for industrial growth
- Modern railroad network with 35,000 feet of rail spur track, ladder tracks under 15 years old
- Near the Interstate, seamlessly integrating industry, agriculture, and community
- Advanced infrastructure, ready-to-develop sites, skilled workforce, high quality of life
- Ideal for metal manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, energy
Local grants & incentives
- Angel and Early Stage Seed Investment Tax Credits
- Certified Sites
- Development Opportunity Zone Tax Credit
- Economic Development Tax Credits
- Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
- Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit
- Relocation Credit
Contacts
