Flagstaff County, Alberta
The Flagstaff County, Alberta BDO Zone for Wheat Straw is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: May 10, 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.
Flagstaff County, AB holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Wheat straw. Issued in May 2024, the rating certifies approximately 900,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 120-km driving distance from the centre point (Forestburg, AB).
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Flagstaff County, AB’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
- Multi-generational wheat production and harvesting history
- Producer willingness to participate under sustainable, mutually profitable conditions
- No large wheat straw competitors in the zone
- Made-in-Alberta farm restricted Class 1 driver licensing reduces shortages, creates local jobs
- 117-acre greenfield industrial park with investment-ready plan
- Grain price volatility, yield fluctuations, and weather extremes affecting supply
- Challenging supply chain logistics across geographically dispersed farms
- Potential public concerns regarding truck traffic, noise, emissions, road quality, accident risks
Infrastructure & sites
- 117 acres in proposed Forestburg/Flagstaff County Industrial Park
- Highway Commercial (HC District) zoning
- Area Structure Plan completed
- Intended uses: manufacturing, processing, fabrication, agro-industrial, bulk fuel storage
Local grants & incentives
- Bio-Industrial Opportunities Section (Government of Alberta)
- Bio Processing Innovation Centre (BPIC) by BIOS
- Agri-Food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program (Alberta Innovates) - up to $500,000
- Emerging Opportunities Program (Government of Alberta) - up to $2,000,000
Contacts
