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Laurel County, Kentucky
The Laurel County, Kentucky BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: February 24, 2026.
'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.
BDO Zone RatingA
Rating
A
Certified supply
342,000 bdt/yr
Feedstock
Woody Biomass
Rated
Feb 2026
Laurel County, KY, BDO Zone Overview
Feedstock quantities are expressed in bone dry tons per year (bdt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in USD ($). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (London, KY).
BDO Zone Assets
- Declining trend in demand for pulpwood and some types of sawmill residuals.
- Regional pulpwood prices at historic lows.
- Mandated professional logger certification program ensures environmental sustainability of logging activities in the state.
- Project development site within six miles of downtown London with natural gas, three-phase electric, high speed internet, and heavy industrial zoning.
BDO Zone Liabilities
- Lack of logging contractors that own and operate mobile chippers and grinders.
- Mountainous terrain complicates forest residue recovery.
- Declining primary product markets increase long-term feedstock supply risk.
BDO Zone, 25 mi
Supply Zone, 75 mi
Competition Zone, 150 mi
Infrastructure
McDaniel Industrial Park
- Location: 948 Sinking Creek Road, London, Laurel County, Kentucky; six miles west of downtown London, adjacent to Hwy 1535, with I-75 three miles away (Exit 41 via KY-80). Marketed as Bluegrass Boulevard, London, KY 40741.
- Site Size: 75 greenfield acres, 3 developable (173+ acres of developable land across the park, fully subdivisible); elevation 1,160–1,200 feet
- Availability: For sale, lease, or build-to-suit; $18,000/acre
- Overview: Owned by the London-Laurel County Economic Development Authority (LLCEDA). Zoned Mixed Use/Planned Development with heavy industrial allowed; permitting time is expected to be less than 1.5 months. Suitable for light-heavy industrial, energy, agri-business, transportation, logistics and distribution projects.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: Jackson Energy Cooperative (distribution) and East Kentucky Power Cooperative (transmission) — 12.47 kV distribution at the site, 69 kV transmission 0.09 mi away, substation 0.2 mi, existing capacity 2 MW (3-phase, 1.5 MW per the site flyer).
- Natural Gas: Delta Natural Gas Co., Inc. — 4″ distribution line 60 ft away at 25 psig; 30″ transmission line 2 miles away; no current user.
- Water: Wood Creek Water — 8″ line 3,500 ft away; total capacity 0.5 MGD with 0.15 MGD excess.
- Wastewater: London Utility Commission — 6″ force main, 180–200 GPM, existing capacity 1.9 MGD (8″ force main per the site flyer).
- Fiber/Telecom: Windstream Kinetic — copper and fiber 4,100 ft away; timeline to serve approximately 3 months.
- Transportation Access:
- Nearest highway: Hwy 1535 (adjacent); accessible from KY-80 and I-75 Exit 41.
- Nearest interstate: I-75 (3 miles).
- Rail carrier: CSX; the site is not rail-served.
- Nearest airport: Blue Grass Airport, Lexington (LEX), 80 miles, longest runway 7,004 ft.
- Nearest port: Port of Louisville, KY (150 miles).
- Site Contacts:
- Economic Development Contact: Paula Thompson, London-Laurel County Economic Development Authority, 606-864-8115, paula@lookatlondonky.com
Spec Building 10 — Lily Industrial Park
- Location: 283 Greta Lane, London, Kentucky 40744, Laurel County; Greta Lane Business Park, conveniently located near US-25 and close to Interstate 75 (37.0362, -84.0636)
- Site Size: 40 total acres — a 39.38-acre parcel with 34.41 usable acres ready to develop, divisible; largest possible tract 40 acres
- Availability: For sale at $4,900,000; vacant land plus a 105,000 sq ft speculative building, new and never occupied
- Overview: Owned by the London-Laurel County EDA. Zoned Industrial; the property is in the county, which has no local permitting, and industrial utilities are adjacent to the parcel. The 105,000 sq ft PEMB spec shell (300′ × 350′, built 2023, construction complete 7/9/24) sits on a 338,000 sq ft building pad, with 30–31 ft ceilings, 1 drive-in door, and 4 truck docks with levelers. Greenfield with a water tower to the rear.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: Kentucky Utilities and Jackson Energy Cooperative — three-phase available; 14 MVA substation adjacent to the parcel.
- Natural Gas: Delta Natural Gas — 6″ steel line, 55 psig MAOP.
- Water: Laurel Water #2 — 12″ line adjacent to the site with 500,000 gpd excess capacity; 500K water tower on site.
- Wastewater: London Utility Commission — 8″ line with 230,000 gpd excess capacity.
- Fiber/Telecom: Windstream and Spectrum — fiber and DSL available.
- Transportation Access:
- Located near US-25 and close to Interstate 75.
- Nearest airport: LEX — Lexington Blue Grass Airport.
- Access to CSX rail and regional logistics.
- Site Contacts:
- Paula Thompson, Executive Director, London-Laurel County Economic Development Authority, 1105 W. 5th St. Suite 2, London, KY — 606-864-8115 (cell 606-682-0223), paula@lookatlondonky.com
Local Grants and Incentives
Kentucky Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Tax CreditKentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on April 27 signed legislation that creates a tiered tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that allows taxpayers to claim up to $3 per gallon in incentives. The credit is slated to be in effect from Jan. 1, 2029, through the end of 2034.
Contact Information
BDO ZoneCONNECT Webinar
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