Clearwater County, Idaho
The Clearwater County, Idaho BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: April 24, 2025.
'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.
Clearwater County, ID holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Forest residuals, Pulpwood. Issued in Apr 2025, the rating certifies approximately 228,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Orofino, ID).
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Clearwater County, ID’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
- Supply Zone includes the highest producing timberlands in Idaho, providing reliable feedstock sources.
- Pulpwood growth rates exceed harvest levels by more than 75%, supporting a sustainable supply.
- Minimal competition for pulpwood and forest residues, with material often left unused.
- Low housing costs at 36% below the national average, supporting workforce recruitment and retention.
- Severe shortage of log truck drivers and loggers leads to significant operational constraints.
- Dependence on a stable sawtimber industry for feedstock availability poses supply chain vulnerability.
- Absence of natural gas infrastructure limits potential processing technologies and applications.
- Wildfire and disease threats to forestland present ongoing risks to feedstock supply reliability.
Infrastructure & sites
- 3.7 flat acres across three parcels in downtown Weippe
- Former site of a truss manufacturing company
- Located just off Highway 11 with easy access
- 60′ x 100′ steel building with concrete floors and two 16′ x 20′ roll-up doors
- 40′ x 40′ attached pole building
- 16′ x 10′ office space and bathroom
- Connected to city water and sewer
- Three-phase power available
- Ideal for light industrial or manufacturing operations
- Located in a supportive, business-friendly North Central Idaho community
- Two available parcels located in Pierce, Idaho
- Suitable for development or investment
- 42 acres available for lease (divisible into smaller parcels)
- Site of former lumber mill in Orofino, Idaho
- One existing building on site
- Adjacent to roadway for convenient access
- Three-phase power on site
- City water and sewer services available
- Water rights to a year-round creek
- Less than 1 mile to rail and local airfield
- Less than 50 miles to major airport
- Less than 50 miles to deep water port
- Fiber internet available
Local grants & incentives
- For more information on Idaho Incentives, click here (https://bdozone.org/wp-content/uploads/Incentivesataglance2023-1.pdf).
- Incentives & Grants (https://commerce.idaho.gov/incentives-and-financing/)
Contacts
