Libby, Montana
The Libby, Montana BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: July 18, 2023.
'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.
Libby, MT holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Forest residuals, Sawmill residuals, Pulpwood. Issued in Jul 2023, the rating certifies approximately 275,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a maximum transport distance of 80 miles.
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Libby, MT’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
- 225,000–275,000 green tons per year (gt/yr) of woody biomass available to new plant development
- Few competing markets for Forest Residuals and Pulpwood
- Reliable anchor supply
- Available forest products labor market
- Strong demand for Sawmill Residuals from existing markets. Limited and competitive access is likely for new markets
- Strong likelihood of material supply chain impacts from externalities: slow lumber markets, periodic wildfires, and extreme weather events
- Significant feedstock derived from National Forest Service land and subject to associated risks
- Increasing fuel prices stress logging and transportation costs
- Fiber from federal lands does not qualify for Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
Infrastructure & sites
- 400-acre park is home to suitable infrastructure including water and sewage treatment, electrical, natural gas, and broadband connectivity
- The park also has a strong road network that consists of both paved and gravel roads
Contacts
